Career wishes and career worries of medical students -: Results of focus group interviews

Purpose: In addition to a prospective longitudinal study of career determinants in young physicians the aim of the present qualitative study was to gather information on 1. experiences by medical students during their clinical year, 2. their understanding of career, 3. their career desires and worries regarding the compatibility of profession and family, and 4. their wishes of career promotion. Method: Twenty-two subjects from the initial sample of 377 students from the three medical schools in the German-speaking part of Switzerland in their senior year agreed to participate in focus groups. The interviews were structured by an interview guideline, the material was tape-recorded, transcribed, paraphrased, and categorised. Results: 1. The experiences during the clinical year mainly brought a gain of practical skills. Female students were disillusioned by the daily routine at the hospital. 2. Career was associated with a poor quality of life. 3. Regarding career wishes male students showed more optimistic attitudes, while female students suppressed their career wishes in prospect of a spouse and/or family. Female and male students had rather traditional ideas about the compatibility of their profession and family. The only acceptable models were the so-called life cycle model (professional work - family phase - return to work for women) or a reduced professional engagement of the woman during the family phase. 4. The majority of the participants wanted some sort of career promotion, female students at the beginning, males rather in a later stage of their career. Conclusion: The results of the longitudinal study will show whether the assessments of the subjects in the focus groups will be confirmed during their further career.