Timing of residents career path decisions

-Findings from a questionnaire survey conducted after the completion of early clinical training-

Abstract

We examined when residents (doctors in postgraduate clinical training) started to consider, and then, decided on their career paths. Most residents started to consider their career paths in the first half of the second year of clinical training, and made decisions in the latter half of the second year. More than 90% indicated that the experience of early clinical training influenced their decision-making process, and 40% changed their career paths. “The actual experience of clinical training” was cited as the primary reason for their decisions. It is assumed that residents will accelerate the timing of their career decision-making due to changes in the clinical training program in 2010.