Table 3 Medical students’ responses to the questionnaire item ‘Factors influencing decision’ when considering a career in psychiatry
Definitely not | Less likely | Might/might not | More likely | Definitely yes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n = 40 (%) | n = 81 (%) | n = 85 (%) | n = 33 (%) | n = 15 (%) | |
Clinical attachment experience | 27 (68) | 60 (74) | 79 (93) | 31 (94) | 11 (73) |
Experience outside of medical school | 7 (18) | 14 (17) | 32 (38) | 15 (45) | 9 (60) |
Public perception of psychiatry | 10 (25) | 10 (12) | 24 (28) | 17 (51) | 5 (33) |
Perception of psychiatry within medicine | 12 (30) | 22 (27) | 37 (44) | 15 (45) | 4 (27) |
Perceived lack of evidence base | 10 (25) | 21 (26) | 17 (20) | 4 (12) | 2 (13) |
Patient prognosis | 20 (50) | 42 (52) | 40 (47) | 13 (39) | 2 (13) |
Career opportunities | 16 (40) | 18 (22) | 41 (48) | 19 (58) | 12 (80) |
Other | 8 (20) | 13 (16) | 7 (8) | 7 (21) | 5 (33) |