TY - JOUR
T1 - Attracting neurology's next generation
T2 - A qualitative study of specialty choice and perceptions
AU - Jordan, Justin T.
AU - Cahill, Carolyn
AU - Ostendorf, Tasha
AU - Gutmann, Laurie
AU - Navarro, Anita
AU - Gamaldo, Charlene E.
AU - Santini, Veronica E.
AU - Ali, Imran
AU - Soni, Madhu
AU - Wilson, Rujuta B.
AU - Said, Rana R.
AU - Czeisler, Barry M.
AU - Rock, Maggie
AU - Smith, A. Gordon
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 American Academy of Neurology.
PY - 2020/8/25
Y1 - 2020/8/25
N2 - OBJECTIVES: To better understand the reasons medical students select or avoid a career in neurology by using a qualitative methodology to explore these factors, with the long-term objective of attracting more graduates to the field. METHODS: In 2017, 27 medical students and 15 residents participated in 5 focus groups, and 33 fourth-year medical students participated in semistructured individual interviews. Participants were asked predefined open-ended questions about specialty choice, experiences in their basic neuroscience course and neurology clerkship, and perceptions about the field. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. We used a flexible coding methodology to generate themes across groups and interviews. RESULTS: Four main analytical themes emerged: (1) early and broad clinical exposure allows students to "try on" neurology and experience the variety of career options; (2) preclerkship experiences and a strong neuroscience curriculum lay the foundation for interest in the field; (3) personal interactions with neurology providers may attract or deter students from considering the specialty; and (4) persistent stereotypes about neurologists, neurology patients, and treatment options harm student perceptions of neurology. CONCLUSION: Efforts to draw more students to neurology may benefit from focusing on clinical correlations during preclerkship neuroscience courses and offering earlier and more diverse clinical experiences, including hands-on responsibilities whenever possible. Finally, optimizing student interactions with faculty and residents and reinforcing the many positive aspects of neurology are likely to favorably affect student perceptions.
AB - OBJECTIVES: To better understand the reasons medical students select or avoid a career in neurology by using a qualitative methodology to explore these factors, with the long-term objective of attracting more graduates to the field. METHODS: In 2017, 27 medical students and 15 residents participated in 5 focus groups, and 33 fourth-year medical students participated in semistructured individual interviews. Participants were asked predefined open-ended questions about specialty choice, experiences in their basic neuroscience course and neurology clerkship, and perceptions about the field. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. We used a flexible coding methodology to generate themes across groups and interviews. RESULTS: Four main analytical themes emerged: (1) early and broad clinical exposure allows students to "try on" neurology and experience the variety of career options; (2) preclerkship experiences and a strong neuroscience curriculum lay the foundation for interest in the field; (3) personal interactions with neurology providers may attract or deter students from considering the specialty; and (4) persistent stereotypes about neurologists, neurology patients, and treatment options harm student perceptions of neurology. CONCLUSION: Efforts to draw more students to neurology may benefit from focusing on clinical correlations during preclerkship neuroscience courses and offering earlier and more diverse clinical experiences, including hands-on responsibilities whenever possible. Finally, optimizing student interactions with faculty and residents and reinforcing the many positive aspects of neurology are likely to favorably affect student perceptions.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85089877686&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85089877686&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009461
DO - 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009461
M3 - Article
C2 - 32332127
AN - SCOPUS:85089877686
VL - 95
SP - e1080-e1090
JO - Neurology
JF - Neurology
SN - 0028-3878
IS - 8
ER -