Predictors of perception of young physician about their career: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To assess the mentality and clarity of junior doctors and medical students regarding their career. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Fauji Foundation hospital, Rawalpindi. For duration of one month. The sample size of the study was 350. Non-probability convenience sampling method was used to collect data. All medical students and junior doctors were included in the study. A selfmade questionnaire based on previous studies was used in the study. Results: Mean age of participants was 22.56 years. Most were medical students (64%) and remainders were house officers. A majority (53.1%) expressed clarity regarding their future and career pathway while 45.4% were uncertain about their future. Career counselling was significantly associated with improved clarity regarding the future. The percentage of young doctors planning on going aboard was 41.7%, while 25.7% of the young doctors planned on staying in Pakistan. Conclusion: The medical education system in Pakistan has shown a trend of increasing desire of the young doctor to move aboard. This causes a shortage of doctors in the country. Career counselling was shown to impact decision making capacity of the young doctor.