Abstract
Factors influencing trainees' decisions about choosing and remaining in higher training subspecialties have not been widely researched. We administered telephone questionnaires to higher specialist trainees in the north-east of England to ascertain what influences these decisions. Thematic analysis was employed to develop overall constructs. Twenty-seven trainees were interviewed, resulting in six overall constructs. These were: supervisory experiences; perceived work-life balance; career prospects; training and working environments; interest in the chosen subspecialty; and previous experience within the chosen subspecialty. Most trainees interviewed felt they had made the right specialty choice. This study demonstrates the particular importance of exposure to a specialty and perceptions of the supervisory experience in determining trainees' choices of, and decisions to remain in, a particular psychiatric specialty. Factors highlighted in this study must inform training, recruitment and workforce planning in order to bolster the recruitment and retention of trainees into higher specialty training.
Highlights
Factors highlighted in this study must inform training, recruitment and workforce planning in order to bolster the recruitment and retention of trainees into higher specialty training
Trainee 18 described alightbulb moment’ during foundation training which appears to have led to a long-term interest and choice of subspecialty. Another trainee contrasted their positive training experience with observed negative experiences for other trainees: All they do is get thrown on ward, go and get history from a chap who has already given twenty histories . . . if that was my experience of psychiatry I would never have wanted to do it either’ (Trainee 2)
A good core training experience was another influential factor and of particular importance in recruitment, as many trainees report using a process of elimination to choose a higher training subspecialty. This reflects conclusions regarding factors influencing the choice of psychiatry at earlier career points.[9]
Summary
Twenty-seven (71%) of thirty-eight eligible trainees identified took part in the study. One did not wish to take part and ten did not respond. Most (85%) had at least a year’s experience of higher training, with (96%) training in their firstchoice subspecialty
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