Survey results reveal what influences medical students to choose radiology as a specialty
A recent survey of medical students reveals the specific factors that influenced them to choose radiology as a specialty.
The survey was completed by 492 medical students from a single institution in Ireland, which, like most of Europe, is experiencing a workforce shortage in radiology. Based on those results, which are published in the European Journal of Radiology, students who are exposed to the variability and diversity of the field of radiology are more likely to pursue it as a career. Understanding these results, the experts suggested, is an important aspect to addressing the worldwide shortage of radiologists.
“The rapid advancement of medical imaging technology and increasing number of novel clinical applications has resulted in an unremitting demand for radiology services that has been met with a continually increasing shortage of capable radiologists,” corresponding author Sophie Bockhold, from the School of Medicine, Health Sciences Center at University College Dublin in Ireland, and co-authors discussed. “It is crucial that we understand what is motivating the choice of medical specialty, in particular the factors influencing individuals towards and away from radiology as a profession and incorporate this knowledge into strategic agendas and workforce planning that safeguard the field of medical imaging.”
The 20-question voluntary survey touched on topics such as demographics, specialty preferences and factors that influenced those inclinations, as well as the participants' exposure to radiology and their understanding of the field. Out of 1,552 medical students and interns, 492 completed the questionnaire. More females (62%) than males (37.4%) participated.
Specialties the students were most interested in were cardiology, emergency medicine and pediatrics. Participants with the most interest in radiology accounted for 27% of respondents. Survey takers cited the varied nature of the field as the things that drew them to radiology the most. Students who had strong interests in physics and technology were also more likely to choose radiology as a specialty. The experts did not find any associations between radiology exposure and students’ interest in it as a specialty, but the participants who had been introduced to the field prior to the survey tended to have more knowledge of the roles and responsibilities involved.
“With both intrinsic and extrinsic factors clearly at play, the question now becomes, how is this knowledge best exploited to attract medical students towards a career in radiology and ensure the stability and success of this critically important specialty?” the authors wrote. “A strategic approach needs to be taken towards undergraduate radiology education which accounts for class composition, emphasizes the diversity and impact of the field, and provides clinical exposure to the subject matter, as a tailored means of steering more students and interns towards the underserved discipline.”
More on radiology training and education:
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7 tips for attracting first year medical students to radiology
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.