Want to make cardiology more appealing to the next generation? Emphasize work-life balance
Work-life balance is the chief determinant that leads internal medicine (IM) trainees to select cardiology as a career, according to a study published May 30 in JAMA Cardiology.
Researchers—led by Pamela S. Douglas, MD, of the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina—sought to determine IM trainees’ professional development preferences, perceptions of cardiology and how those factors impact career choice.
The researchers surveyed more than 1,100 trainees from 198 residency programs on 38 professional development needs and 19 perceptions in cardiology.
Stable hours and family friendliness were the top two professional development preferences, according to the survey results. Survey respondents perceived cardiology as a specialty with adverse job conditions and one that can interfere with family life.
“Our survey data suggest that IM trainees’ most valued aspects of professional development related to work-life balance and mentorship, while their strongest perceptions of cardiology were of a negative culture and job description at odds with their perceived needs,” Douglas and colleagues wrote. “Both areas were strongly associated with career choice. Understanding and addressing those factors found in our survey to influence trainees’ career choice may help in ensuring the continued attractiveness of the field as well as achieving cardiology’s goal of ensuring a robust and diverse future workforce.”
Women and IM trainees not pursuing cardiology placed higher value on work-life balance, while also having more negative perceptions of the field. Men were more likely to emphasize the intellectually stimulating aspects of cardiology.
The researchers found professional development factors coupled with IM trainees’ perceptions of cardiology impacted whether one chose cardiology as a specialty.
“Our findings regarding IM trainees’ professional development preferences and perceptions of cardiology represent the first exploration of how such issues influence the future cardiology workforce,” Douglas et al. wrote. “Because the composition, capacity, and diversity of the workforce is associated with the quality of patient care and reducing health care disparities, our data are crucial.”
As a senior news writer for TriMed, Subrata covers cardiology, clinical innovation and healthcare business. She has a master’s degree in communication management and 12 years of experience in journalism and public relations.