The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the career intentions of New Zealand medical graduates

Abstract

Introduction/background: Career choices of graduating medical students are a result of iterative decisions made by individuals, and influenced by education, the health system, and broader environmental contexts. Early findings from overseas studies show an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical students career intentions, consistent with literature from other natural disasters. While the pandemic had some impact on NZ medical students education, most final-year students were able to stay on placements and graduate on time. COVID-19 has afforded a unique opportunity to understand the effect of a pandemic on medical student career choice. Aim/objectives: To determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on graduating medical student career choice, in terms of both specialty intention and intended career location. Methods: Two questions were inserted into the 2020 Medical Schools Outcomes Database questionnaire for final year NZ medical students. These covered the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on future medical specialty career decisions, and on geographic location of practice intentions. Qualitative data were analysed to elicit key themes to understand the impact of the pandemic on medical student career intentions. Results: Early results from over 325 responses indicate that for over 80% of NZ medical students, the COVID-19 pandemic had no effect on their preferred area of medicine or their preferred geographic region of practice. For some medical students, their preferred area of medical practice had been strengthened or weakened, based on factors such changes to their clinical rotations and unexpected exposure to different specialties. Discussion: Knowing more about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical student career choice will help health workforce planners and other stakeholders understand emerging changes in health workforce needs. Understanding this impact also provides insights regarding career decision making when faced by external threats.