Experience Of Doctors Research Articles

A Doctor in the House, An Ethical Consideration on Treating Their Family Members: A Mixed-Method Study.

The ethical dilemma of doctors treating their own family members has long been a contentious issue in the field of medicine. Despite these dilemmas, doctors may feel compelled to become involved in the care of family members and reluctant to set standards for themselves. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the experience of doctors in the treatment of their families in Perambalur District, Tamil Nadu, India. A mixed-method study was conducted among the doctors in Perambalur District, Tamil Nadu, India from December 2021 to October 2022. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess the socio-demographic details and the experience of doctors in treating their family members, followed by a focused group discussion (FGD). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16(SPSS Inc., Chicago). A scatter plot was created to visualize the relationship between age, experience of doctors, and confidence level with the frequency of treating family members. A chi-square test was performed to find any associations, and a p-value <0.05 was considered significant. For qualitative data, a fish herringbone model was constructed. A total of 72 doctors participated in the study. The study found that almost all the doctors (100%) received medical requests from family members, the median number of requests received in a year was 6.5 with an interquartile range of 4-8 and three-quarters (66.6%) of them accepted the requests and treated them. However, concerns about maintaining objectivity, emotional attachment, and loss of confidentiality were cited as primary reasons for not accepting all requests. The study also found a positive relationship between age, years of experience, and the frequency of treating family members.The FGD highlighted challenges related to potential risks in managing complex cases, emotional involvement impacting decision-making, conflicts of interest, and pressures from family members and societal norms. In the present study, almost all the doctors received requests from their family members in the last year, and more than three-fourths of the doctors treated their family members.One-fourth of the doctors rejected requests from family members due to concerns about the potential loss of objectivity and the risk of misdiagnosing symptoms caused by emotional attachments.This study sheds light on the complexities and ethical considerations doctors face when treating family members. It emphasizes the need for medical ethics education in the curriculum to guide future doctors in making ethical decisions in such situations. Implementing clear-cut medical ethics guidelines in India would be instrumental in addressing these issues and ensuring ethical practices in the medical field.

Exploring humour within the PhD experience: a first-hand reflection

This opinion piece presents a reflective analysis that employs three theories in humour research, namely the benign violation theory, the theory of superiority and the ontic-epistemic theory of the comic, in order to delve into the doctoral experience. Using three vignettes, I elucidate the potential role of higher education faculty in facilitating transformative shifts in the perspectives of postgraduate students, enabling them to navigate cognitive dissonance and surmount obstacles in their academic development. This contribution holds practical value for both PhD students and faculty members, fostering opportunities for introspection and critical contemplation.

Schizo-Poetic Inquiry of a First-Year Doctoral Experience

Undertaking a doctoral program is a significant commitment involving sustained effort as an individual engages in academic work and scholarly identity formation. As a graduate student with a psychiatric disability, I face an added layer of challenge: dealing with symptoms as I navigate an academic system that is not designed for bodyminds like mine. This poetry and visual art collection offers a glimpse into my experience as a first-year doctoral student with schizoaffective disorder1 as I navigated Zoom classrooms, considered academic timelines and campus mental health awareness week, and wrestled with symptoms during the summer session. Through a schizo-poetic and visual inquiry informed by disability poetry and schizo-poetics, I present an embodied, multi-sensory exploration to highlight similarities and differences in the experiences of doctoral students with mental illness and their neurotypical peers, as well as to expand the conversation around disability and academia.

Investigating the impact of innovative AI chatbot on post-pandemic medical education and clinical assistance: a comprehensive analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted clinical experience and exposure of medical students and junior doctors. Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration in medical education has the potential to enhance learning and improve patient care. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of three popular large language models (LLMs) in serving as clinical decision-making support tools for junior doctors. A series of increasingly complex clinical scenarios were presented to ChatGPT, Google's Bard and Bing's AI. Their responses were evaluated against standard guidelines, and for reliability by the Flesch Reading Ease Score, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, the Coleman-Liau Index, and the modified DISCERN score for assessing suitability. Lastly, the LLMs outputs were assessed by using the Likert scale for accuracy, informativeness, and accessibility by three experienced specialists. In terms of readability and reliability, ChatGPT stood out among the three LLMs, recording the highest scores in Flesch Reading Ease (31.2 ± 3.5), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (13.5 ± 0.7), Coleman-Lau Index (13) and DISCERN (62 ± 4.4). These results suggest statistically significant superior comprehensibility and alignment with clinical guidelines in the medical advice given by ChatGPT. Bard followed closely behind, with BingAI trailing in all categories. The only non-significant statistical differences (P > 0.05) were found between ChatGPT and Bard's readability indices, and between the Flesch Reading Ease scores of ChatGPT/Bard and BingAI. This study demonstrates the potential utility of LLMs in fostering self-directed and personalized learning, as well as bolstering clinical decision-making support for junior doctors. However further development is needed for its integration into education.

274 Human Factors in Surgery: The experience of the junior doctors

Abstract Introduction Healthcare is a dynamic and complex sociotechnical system. Human factor principles have been recognised to improve care delivery and patient safety. Aim To determine if the workload among foundation doctors working in the surgical department was excessive leading to burnout and to propose solutions. Method A retrospective audit was performed in a general surgical department at a District General Hospital. Data were collected for 3 months in 2022 from the patient record system. Results There were 7 consultant-led teams in the surgical department comprising a surgical registrar and senior house officer. 6 of them have a foundation doctor each. The number of on-calls (13-hour shift from Monday-Thursday or Friday-Sunday) has a median of 5. In August, the cumulative patients under the care of a team ranged from 57 to 300. In September, the number ranged from 77 to 277. In October, the number ranged from 98 to 302. Conclusions The number of patients under the care of different teams varied greatly which signified some foundation doctors might have more workload. The workload should be ideally consistent and sustainable to optimise patient care. The next step would to be assess their burnout risk using Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). With the data, the aim would be to create measures for decreasing or sharing the cognitive workload. If the occupational stressors are not addressed, the rippling effect could be detrimental to both the healthcare workers and patients.

PhD graduates’ appraisals of work demands: challenging, hindering, and not very threatening

ABSTRACT PhD graduates are often recruited for positions that entail various work demands. Based on theoretical models of work demands, PhD graduates can appraise these demands in three main ways: as challenges, hindrances, or threats. The more aware they are of the skills they developed in their doctoral program, the more likely they are to appraise demands as challenges or hindrances, and the less likely they are to appraise them as threats. However, past studies have shown that PhD graduates report low awareness of their skills, which may lead to high threat appraisal. We conducted semi-directive interviews with 16 PhD graduates from France to examine their appraisal of work demands. We investigated four work demands: important responsibilities, heavy workload, competitive work environment, and challenging work environment. Most participants appraised these demands either as challenges or hindrances. Although some participants reported a low awareness of specific skills (e.g. project management), they still expressed confidence in their ability to handle the demands, leading to low threat appraisal. This was largely due to awareness of transferable skills (e.g. the abilities to learn and adapt), supporting their adaptability to demanding contexts. However, participants rarely attributed these skills to their doctoral experience, which questions how they perceive the benefits of their doctoral program. Moreover, specific difficulties may arise for certain groups (e.g. women, international students) and work demands (i.e. non-constructive criticism).

Perceptions of Doctors in Saudi Arabia Toward Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Applications in Healthcare.

Background Several studies suggested that artificial intelligence (AI), including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), may help improve visualization, diagnostic, and therapeutic abilities and reduce medical and surgical errors. These technologies have been revolutionary in Saudi Arabia. We aimed to elucidate physicians' perceptions toward these technologies. Methodology We carried out a cross-sectional electronic questionnaire-based study in November 2021. The study targeted doctors of different medical and surgical specialties in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Results In our study, 53.2% of the participants were 25-30 years old. Most participants were residents (53.6%) with career experiences <5 years. Only 32.3% had a good familiarity with AR and VR technologies. However, 64.5% agreed that AR and VR technologies had practical applications in the medical field. Moreover, 35% agreed that the diagnostic and therapeutic ability was superior to the clinical experience of a human doctor. About 41.4% agreed they would always use AR and VR technologies for future medical decisions. Conclusion Doctors are open to using AR and VR technologies in healthcare.Although most people are unfamiliar with these technologies, most agree that they positively impact healthcare.

Doctoral supervisors’ and supervisees’ perceptions on supervisory support and frequency of supervision – Do they match?

ABSTRACT Supervisory relationship is a highly significant driver of doctoral experience. However, empirical studies exploring the alignment between supervisors’ and supervisees’ perceptions of good doctoral supervision is lacking. A total of 768 doctoral candidates and 561 doctoral supervisors from a multi-field research-intensive university participated in the study. Data were collected with the doctoral experience survey and the supervisory experience survey, and qualitatively and quantitatively analysed. The results showed that both doctoral candidates and the supervisors described informational, emotional, instrumental, and co-constructional support as the primary characteristics of high-quality supervision. However, some differences also existed. Perceptions regarding frequency of supervision are well aligned, although supervisors report supervising slightly more than candidates report receiving it. The results highlight the importance of promoting the alignment between doctoral candidates’ and supervisors’ perceptions of quality and quantity of supervision, as it fosters study progress, reduces the risk of candidates discontinuing their PhD and increases satisfaction.

Doctors' experiences when treating doctor-patients: a scoping review.

To work effectively, doctors need to look after themselves. They often delay seeking medical care for a range of reasons. Once they do, there is evidence that the doctors treating them ('treating doctors') can struggle to provide optimal care. To examine existing literature on what is currently known about experiences for treating doctors, in particular GPs, when their patient is also a doctor. A scoping review of articles written in English. Using the JBI methodological framework for scoping reviews, five databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL [Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health], Google Scholar, and Scopus) were searched from the database start date until 31 December 2022. Qualitative and quantitative studies reporting the treating doctor's experience, guidelines for treating doctors, expert opinion articles, and editorials were included. Grey literature was considered, searching the first 10 pages of two Google searches. Forty-eight articles from eight countries met inclusion criteria, of which 12 were research studies. The main areas of focus were as follows: affective responses, which included anxiety about being criticised, concern about upsetting the doctor-patient, and discomfort regarding the acknowledgement that doctors get sick; relational factors, which included boundary issues, over-identifying with the doctor-patient, treating them as a colleague rather than a patient, and role ambiguity; confidentiality, which incorporated both affective and relational aspects; and influence of medical culture and socialisation on dynamics between treating doctor and doctor-patient. These findings have been distilled into a list of key suggestions for the treating doctor. Doctors can find treating doctor-patients anxiety-provoking and challenging. The sources of this discomfort are multifaceted, and more empirical research is needed to better understand and address the complex relationship between treating doctor and doctor-patient.

The experiences of autistic doctors: a cross-sectional study.

Medicine may select for autistic characteristics. As awareness and diagnosis of autism are growing, more medical students and doctors may be discovering they are autistic. No studies have explored the experiences of autistic doctors. This study aimed to fill that gap. This is a cross-sectional study. A participatory approach was used to identify the need for the project and to modify a pre-existing survey for use exploring the experiences of autistic doctors. We received 225 responses. 64% had a formal diagnosis of autism. The mean age of receiving a formal diagnosis was 36 (range 3-61). Most were currently working as doctors (82%). The most common specialties were general practice / family medicine (31%), psychiatry (18%), and anesthesia (11%). Almost half of those working had completed specialty training (46%) and 40% were current trainees. 29% had not disclosed being autistic to anyone at work. 46% had requested adjustments in the workplace but of these, only half had them implemented.Three quarters had considered suicide (77%), one quarter had attempted suicide (24%) and half had engaged in self-harm (49%). 80% reported having worked with another doctor they suspected was autistic, but only 22% reported having worked with another doctor they knew was autistic. Having never worked with a potentially autistic colleague was associated with having considered suicide.Most preferred to be called "autistic doctors" (64%). Most considered autism to be a difference (83%). Considering autism to be a disorder was associated with preference for the term "doctors with autism," and with having attempted suicide. Autistic doctors reported many challenges in the workplace. This may have contributed to a culture of nondisclosure. Mental health was poor with high rates of suicidal ideation, self-harm, and prior suicide attempts. Despite inhospitable environments, most were persevering and working successfully. Viewing autism as a disorder was associated with prior suicide attempts and a preference for person-first language. A neurodiversity-affirmative approach to autism may lead to a more positive self-identity and improved mental health. Furthermore, providing adequate supports and improving awareness of autistic medical professionals may promote inclusion in the medical workforce.

Surgical residents as “second victims” following exposure to medical errors in a tertiary health training facility in Nigeria: a phenomenology study

IntroductionThe “second victim” phenomenon refers to the distress and other negative consequences that physicians experience when they commit medical error. There has been increasing awareness about this phenomenon and efforts are being made to address it. However, there is dearth of information about it in developing countries. This study explored the experiences of surgical resident doctors of the University College Hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria about the “second victim” phenomenon and the support they had following medical errors.MethodsThis is a phenomenology study in which qualitative data were obtained from interviews with 31 resident doctors across 10 surgical units/departments. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and data were coded inductively. Data were analyzed using content analysis method. Themes and subthemes were generated using axial coding. The themes were then integrated using selective coding.ResultsThere were 31 participants and 10(32.3%) were females. All had witnessed other physicians encountering medical errors while 28(90.3%) had been directly involved in medical errors. Most of the errors were at the inter-operative stage. Prolonged work hours with inadequate sleep were identified as major causes of most medical errors. The feelings following medical errors were all negative and was described as ‘stressful’. Most of the residents got support from their colleagues, mostly contemporaries following medical errors, and many viewed medical errors as a learning point to improve their practice. However, there was a general belief that the systemic support following medical errors was inadequate.ConclusionThe “second victim” phenomenon was common among the study group with consequent negative effects. Normalizing discussions about medical errors, reduction of work hours and meticulous intraoperative guidance may reduce medical errors and its consequences on the surgical residents. Steps should be taken within the system to address this issue effectively.

Impact of Mentorship on Entry-Level OTD Students’ Self-Efficacy for the Doctoral Capstone Experience

Abstract Date Presented 04/22/2023 This study examined factors influencing OTD students’ self-efficacy for the doctoral capstone experience (DCE). Analysis of journals and interviews resulted in themes regarding students’ relationship with their site mentor and factors influencing their efficacy beliefs on the DCE. Primary Author and Speaker: Ann Cook

Introducere în utilizarea inteligenţei artificiale în pediatrie

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a fascinating field that has cap­tured the attention of scientists and researchers. The de­fi­ni­tions of AI have changed and evolved. The con­tem­po­rary definition focuses on the ability of artificial systems to learn from data and perform specific tasks, such as voice and vi­sual recognition or decision-making based on complex in­for­ma­tion. Artificial intelligence has evolved from rigidly pro­grammed systems to ones that can learn and adapt auto­no­mously. AI has represented a significant evolution in the medical field, bringing fundamental changes in di­sease diagnosis, treatment and management. There are se­veral ways in which it can be used in pediatrics: assisted diag­no­sis and prognosis, designing personalized treatment regi­mens, real-time monitoring of patients, assistance in con­sul­ta­tions and remote care, and medical education and training. Despite all the advantages that AI brings, doctors’ re­luc­tance remains an important obstacle to its adoption. Con­cerns about the ethical and legal aspects of using AI in medical practice may drive this reluctance. Ethical and le­gal issues include patient data privacy, accountability, trans­pa­rency of AI algorithms, and error detection. Clear re­gu­la­tions are needed to address these issues in medical prac­tice. Artificial intelligence should not and will never re­place the experience and expertise of doctors. AI in pe­dia­trics should always complement doctors based on a multidisciplinary approach involving human medical con­sul­ta­tion and decision-making in a wider context.

Differential Impact of COVID-19 on Junior Doctors

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the working circumstances for doctors. To cope with increased workload, hospitals had to increase working hours, reallocate vacation and study leaves and rotations. This impacted the physical and mental well-being of all doctors, particularly international medical graduates (IMG). We explored the differential impact on junior doctors working in a district general hospital. In a mixed methods study, we evaluated the experience and perception of junior doctors in a United Kingdom district hospital in the south of England during the first wave of COVID-19 between March 2020 and September 2020. The study was conducted in two phases: creating a questionnaire followed by an evaluation of qualitative and quantitative content. About 83% doctors in non-consultant grades responded and 37.8% were IMG. The study found that IMG were significantly more likely to experience stress when compared to UK medical graduates (p = 0.008). They were also more worried about contracting the virus when compared to UK medical graduates (p = 0.004). Both groups felt that their training and career progression had been adversely affected. Various factors could play a role in increased stress in IMG when compared to UK medical graduates. These factors included: adjusting to a new system, being away from family, exams and interviews being cancelled, and reports suggesting that members of the the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community were more likely to be affected by serious illness if contracted COVID-19. This highlights the need for additional support for IMG.

An Exploration of Doctor of Physical Therapy Students' Belongingness in Clinical Education: A Validation Study.

The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Belongingness Scale-Clinical Placement Experience (BES-CPE) for Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students in the United States. Belongingness is vital to one's mental, emotional, and physical health. Research has shown that belongingness is positively correlated with students' academic performance and achievement. An absence of belongingness may hinder students' full participation in clinical experiences and compromise clinical achievement. Respondents were current or former DPT students at least 18 years of age who had either completed the midterm evaluation of their final terminal full-time clinical education experience (TCE) in their DPT program or were no more than 1 year from the completion of their final TCE. The BES-CPE was adapted for DPT students, and the scale was completed electronically by those who met the inclusion criteria. Principal component analysis with promax rotation and Cronbach's α were used to determine construct validity and reliability. One hundred fifty-nine respondents completed all items on the BES-CPE and demographic survey. A 3-component structure was identified (esteem, connectedness, and efficacy), which was aligned to the original BES-CPE scale. One item was discarded, and the final version of the BES-CPE for DPT students is a 33-item scale with satisfactory internal consistency. This study adapted and provided evidence for validity of the first known scale to measure belongingness in DPT students during their clinical education experiences (CEEs) in the United States. The 33-item BES-CPE provided valid and reliable measures of belongingness in DPT students during CEEs that can be used to provide a better understanding of the student experience in the clinical learning environment.

Control of the injection velocity of embolic agents in embolization treatment

BackgroundEmbolization is a common treatment method for tumor-targeting, anti-organ hyper-function, and hemostasis. However, the injection of embolic agents largely depends on the experiences of doctors, and doctors need to work in an X-ray environment that hurts their health. Even for a well-trained doctor, complications such as ectopic embolism caused by excessive embolic agents are always inevitable.ResultsThis paper established a flow control curve model for embolic injection based on local arterial pressure. The end-vessel network was simplified as a porous media. The hemodynamic changes at different injection velocities and embolization degrees were simulated and analyzed. Sponge, a typical porous medium, was used to simulate the blocking and accumulation of embolic agents by capillary networks in the in vitro experimental platform.ConclusionsThe simulation and experimental results show that the local arterial pressure is closely related to the critical injection velocity of the embolic agent reflux at a certain degree of embolization. The feasibility of this method for an automatic embolic injection system is discussed. It is concluded that the model of the flow control curve of embolic injection can effectively reduce the risk of ectopic embolism and shorten the time of embolic injection. The clinical application of this model is of great value in reducing radiation exposure and improving the success rate of interventional embolization.

P39 A qualitative study investigating the views of nurses and doctors on the management of urinary tract infections in long-term care facilities

Abstract Background The most commonly reported infections in older persons’ long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs contribute to high rates of antimicrobial prescribing, for the treatment and prophylaxis of UTI. Antimicrobials are often inappropriately prescribed and can increase the risk of antimicrobial resistance and other negative outcomes in LTCF populations.1 Objectives To explore the views and experiences of nurses and doctors working in LTCF on the management of UTIs. Methods Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nurses and GPs who work in or provide medical service in LTCFs in November 2022. Interviews were conducted online or by telephone, and recordings transcribed. Thematic analysis was conducted, and the themes were mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF)1.2 Results Seven nurses and eight GPs were interviewed. Key domains such as knowledge, memory, attention and decision making and beliefs about consequences had an influential role on UTI management as reported by participants. Contextual factors such as the time taken to obtain urine culture results, and social factors such as the key role of the LTCF nurse, were reported as key issues. Variability in practice and inconsistent knowledge of urine dipstick and UTI management guidelines were acknowledged in the management of UTIs and urine dipstick practices between participants. Conclusions This study identified social factors, contextual LTCF factors and variability in the management of UTI and urine dipstick practices across the participants. LTCFs require improved access to urine culture results, improved communication between all healthcare professionals involved and increased implementation of dipstick and UTI management guidelines.

The educational value of ward rounds as a learning and teaching opportunity for house officers, medical officers, and registrars in Sudanese hospitals: a multi-center cross-sectional study

BackgroundWard rounds are a cornerstone in the educational experience of junior doctors and an essential part of teaching patient care. Here, we aimed to assess the doctors’ perception of ward rounds as an educational opportunity and to identify the obstacles faced in conducting a proper ward round in Sudanese hospitals.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted from the 15th to the 30th of January 2022 among house officers, medical officers, and registrars in about 50 teaching and referral hospitals in Sudan. House officers and medical officers were considered the learners, while specialist registrars were considered the teachers. Doctors’ perceptions were assessed using an online questionnaire, with a 5-level Likert scale to answer questions.ResultsA total of 2,011 doctors participated in this study (882 house officers, 697 medical officers, and 432 registrars). The participants were aged 26.9 ± 3.2 years, and females constituted about 60% of the sample. An average of 3.1 ± 6.8 ward rounds were conducted per week in our hospitals, with 11.1 ± 20.3 h spent on ward rounds per week.Most doctors agreed that ward rounds are suitable for teaching patient management (91.3%) and diagnostic investigations (89.1%). Almost all the doctors agreed that being interested in teaching (95.1%) and communicating appropriately with the patients (94.7%) make a good teacher in ward rounds. Furthermore, nearly all the doctors agreed that being interested in learning (94.3%) and communicating appropriately with the teacher (94.5%) make a good student on ward rounds. About 92.8% of the doctors stated that the quality of ward rounds could be improved. The most frequently reported obstacles faced during ward rounds were the noise (70%) and lack of privacy (77%) in the ward environment.ConclusionWard rounds have a special value in teaching patient diagnosis and management. Being interested in teaching/learning and having good communication skills were the two major criteria that make a good teacher/learner. Unfortunately, ward rounds are faced with obstacles related to the ward environment. It is mandatory to ensure the quality of both ward rounds' teaching and environment to optimize the educational value and subsequently improve patient care practice.

Between suffering and coping: burnout in female medical doctors in South Africa.

Burnout is described as emotional and physical exhaustion, reduced accomplishment, together with an outlook of inadequacy and cynicism related to job stress. It has a harmful impact globally, especially in developing countries, such as South Africa. This study is a phenomenological collective case study focusing on burnout experience in a sample of female medical doctors working in a South African public hospital. Based on ongoing explorations of burnout themes, empirically based intervention strategies are needed to be developed and presented for the South African public health sector to prevent stress-related burnout. The findings support the trend in literature that burnout is an overwhelming experience for female medical doctors in South Africa. The study presents voices of female medical doctors, their concerns, the causes for burnout and their coping mechanisms. It provides a strong contribution to exploring and presenting women's experiences in working in the medical field in South Africa from a positive psychology perspective. The findings indicate the struggles and the coping mechanisms of female medical doctors working in the field.

Personal interest, supervisory and research community support and dropout intentions among Finnish PhD candidates

PurposeThis study aims to advance the understanding on individual variations in PhD candidates’ personal interest in their doctorate and supervisory and research community support, and several individual and structural attributes potentially having an impact on the profiles.Design/methodology/approachThe authors explored the interrelationship between personal interest – social support profiles, and nationality, gender, research group and study status and the risk of dropping out. A total of 768 PhD candidates from a research-intensive university in Finland responded to a modified version of the cross-cultural doctoral experience survey. Latent profile analysis was used to explore the individual variations in PhD candidates’ interest and support from the supervisor and research community.FindingsThree distinctive PhD interest-social support profiles were detected; the high interest–high support profile (74.4%, n = 570), the high interest–moderate support profile (18.2%, n = 140) and the moderate interest–moderate support profile (7.4%, n = 56). The profiles exhibited high to moderate levels of research, development and instrumental interest. Individuals in the high interest–moderate support and in the moderate interest–moderate support profiles were more prone to consider dropping out from their PhD than in the high interest–high support profile.Originality/valueThe results indicate that by cultivating PhD candidates’ interest and providing sufficient supervisory and the research community offers a means for preventing candidates from discontinuing their doctorate. Hence, building a supportive learning environment that cultivates a PhD candidate’s personal interest is likely to reduce high dropout rates among the candidates.