JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The United Kingdom's (UK) medical education system faces a complex landscape of specialty training choices and heightened competition. The Factors Affecting Specialty Training preference (FAST) study addresses the need to understand the factors influencing UK medical students' specialty choices, against a backdrop of increasing challenges in healthcare workforce planning.

Objective:

The primary objectives of the FAST study are to explore UK medical students' preferred specialties and the factors that influence these choices. Secondary objectives are to evaluate students' confidence in securing their chosen specialty, to understand how demographic and academic backgrounds affect their decisions, and to examine how specialty preferences and confidence levels vary across different UK medical schools.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey design was employed to collect data from UK medical students. The survey, comprising 17 questions, uses Likert scales, multiple-choice formats, and free-text entry to capture nuanced insights into specialty choice factors. The methodology, adapted from the AIMS study, incorporates adjustments based on literature review, clinical staff feedback, and pilot group insights. This approach ensures comprehensive and non-directive questioning. Data analysis will include descriptive statistics to establish basic patterns, ANOVA for group comparisons, logistic regression for outcome modelling, and discrete choice models for specialty preference analysis.

Results:

The study launched nationally on December 4, 2023. Data collection is anticipated to end on March 1, 2024, with data analysis beginning thereafter. The results are expected to be available later in 2024.

Conclusions:

The FAST study represents an important step in understanding the factors influencing UK medical students’ career pathways. By integrating diverse student perspectives across year groups and medical schools, this study seeks to provide critical insights into the dynamics of specialty, or residency, selection. The findings are anticipated to inform both policy and educational strategies, aiming to align training opportunities with the evolving needs and aspirations of the future medical workforce. Ultimately, the insights gained may guide initiatives to balance specialty distribution, improve career guidance, and improve overall student satisfaction within the NHS, contributing to a more stable and effective healthcare system.