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Emergency medicine training in Canada: a survey of medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and preferences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2015

Morgan Hillier ,
Shelley McLeod ,
Danny Mendelsohn ,
Bradley Moffat ,
Audra Smallfield ,
Akram Arab ,
Ashley Brown  and
Robert Sedran
Morgan Hillier
Affiliation:
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON
Shelley McLeod
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON
Danny Mendelsohn
Affiliation:
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON
Bradley Moffat
Affiliation:
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON
Audra Smallfield
Affiliation:
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON
Akram Arab
Affiliation:
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON
Ashley Brown
Affiliation:
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON
Robert Sedran*
Affiliation:
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON Division of Emergency Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON
*
Room E1-100 Westminster Tower, 800 Commissioners Road, London, ON N6A 5W9; [email protected]

Abstract

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Objectives:

The objective of this study was to assess medical students' knowledge of and attitudes toward the two Canadian emergency medicine (EM) residency programs (Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada [FRCPC] and Certificant of the College of Family Physicians-Emergency Medicine [CCFP-EM]). Additionally, medical students interested in EM were asked to select factors affecting their preferred choice of residency training program and their intended future practice.

Methods:

Medical students enrolled at The University of Western Ontario for the 2008–2009 academic year were invited to complete an online 47-item questionnaire pertaining to their knowledge, opinions, and attitudes toward EM residency training.

Results:

Of the 563 students invited to participate, 406 (72.1%) completed the survey. Of the respondents, 178 (43.8%) expressed an interest in applying to an EM residency training program, with 85 (47.8%) most interested in applying to the CCFP-EM program.

The majority of respondents (54.1%) interested in EM believed that there should be two streams to EM certification, whereas 18.0% disagreed. Family life and control over work schedule appeared to be common priorities seen as benefits of any career in EM. Other high-ranking factors influencing career choice differed between the groups interested in CCFP-EM and FRCPC. The majority of students interested in the CCFP-EM residency program (78%) reported that they intend to blend their EM with their family medicine practice. Only 2% of students planned to practice only EM with no family medicine.

Conclusions:

This is the first survey of Canadian medical students to describe disparities in factors influencing choice of EM residency stream, perceptions of postgraduate work life, and anticipated practice environment.

Keywords

career choiceemergency medicinemedical studentresidency
Type
Education • Enseignement
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , July 2011 , pp. 251 - 258
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2011

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