title: A survey of how and why medical students and junior doctors choose a career in ENT surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain determinants of an interest in a career in ENT surgery through a survey of medical students and junior doctors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was administered, comprising Likert scales, forced response and single option questions, and free text responses, at five different courses or events for those interested in a career in ENT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey had an 87 per cent response rate; respondents consisted of 43 applicants for national selection, 15 foundation doctors and 23 medical students. The most important factors that encourage ENT as a career included: the variety of operative procedures, work-life balance, inherent interest in this clinical area and inspirational senior role models. Exposure to ENT in undergraduate or post-graduate training is critical in deciding to pursue this specialty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to promote those aspects of ENT surgery that attract people to it, and to argue for greater exposure to ENT during undergraduate and post-graduate training.
authors.affiliation: UCL Ear Institute,London,UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhutta
authors.affiliation: UCL Ear Institute,London,UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mandavia
authors.affiliation: ENT Department,University Hospital Lewisham,London,UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Syed
authors.affiliation: ENT Department,John Radcliffe Hospital,Oxford,UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.affiliation: ENT Department,John Radcliffe Hospital,Oxford,UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hettige
authors.affiliation: ENT Department,Pinderfield Hospitals,Wakefield,UK.
authors.forename: B Y W
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: UCL Ear Institute,London,UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.affiliation: Academic Centre for Medical Education,University College London,UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cartledge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D010036:Otolaryngology; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Career Choice; Otolaryngology; Surveys