Graduate outcomes – what factors affect further access to training?

This project investigated the effect of different medical curricula on junior doctors’ career pathways, including application to specialist training colleges and preparation for hospital practice. It is intended that the results will feed back to medical curricula and aid future program planning.A short survey was distributed to 2000 doctors who graduated after 1996. Participants were randomly selected from the NSW registration board database.The response rate was 20%. Preliminary results show that most respondents were at the registrar level, from the University of Sydney or New South Wales and had completed a six year medical degree, had not graduated with honours, were graded with distinction, credit or pass. A large group of respondents were based at Westmead and their preferred vocational career choice was practicing as a GP or in anaesthetics. 63% had applied for entry to a research or training program and for 96% this was their first choice. The support of a mentor was the most positive influence on meeting long term career objectives (78%), followed by recognition of performance as a junior doctor (71%), age at graduation (51%), university attended (48%). The most negative influence was competition/lack of places available (33%), followed by family commitments (31%). The most helpful aspect of medical school curriculum in terms of accessing further training was learning how to communicate with patients (81%), followed by clinical/procedural skills (72%), and basic science knowledge (67%). The least helpful aspect was research training (15%). Qualitative data from the survey will be reported.