Psychiatry as an option after graduating medicine

Abstract

Introduction Published data show that internationally, 4.5% (range 1 to 12%) of medical students consider psychiatry as a career. Psychiatric practice involves special working conditions (exposure to hostile behavior or stigma), and incentives (flexible working schedules, higher income depending on specific country regulations). Objective The purpose of the study is to identify the students' intention to choose psychiatry after graduating medical school. Methods Students from the terminal years of general medicine were asked to fill in a questionnaire about their future career options. We analyzed socio-demographic data, the preferred medical specialty, preferred work setting (hospital, ambulatory, mixed hospital and ambulatory), preferred country of practice (native or foreign). The study included two samples: Romanian and foreign students in general medicine. Results Seventy-five Romanian and 37 foreign students studying medicine at Timisoara University of Medicine and Pharmacy accepted to fulfill the questionnaire. The mean age in the Romanian sample was 24.27 years, and 26.59 years in the foreign student sample. The male:female ratio was 1:3.7 in Romanian and 1.8:1 in foreign students. Psychiatry was chosen as an option by 7 (9.3%) Romanian students. None of the foreign students expressed intention for psychiatry. Foreign students come mostly from Europe 56.8% (Germany 35.1%), and the rest from Asia, Africa, and North America. Romanian students prefer non-surgical specialties and a mixed practice, while foreign students prefer surgical specialties and hospital practice. Conclusions In Romanian students, the interest in choosing psychiatry is fairly higher than in other countries, possible due to demographic and country regulatory factors.