@article {Briggs469, author = {Sally Briggs and Recia Atkins and Jeremy Playfer and Oliver J Corrado}, title = {Why do doctors choose a career in geriatric medicine?}, volume = {6}, number = {5}, pages = {469--472}, year = {2006}, doi = {10.7861/clinmedicine.6-5-469}, publisher = {Royal College of Physicians}, abstract = {Reforms to postgraduate training in the UK may affect recruitment to geriatric medicine. In 2005, a questionnaire survey was undertaken to determine the factors favouring geriatric medicine as a career choice and whether these might be used to influence recruitment. In all, 1,036 responses to the questionnaire were received (response rate 56.4\%); 4\% of the respondents decided to specialise in geriatric medicine as students, 3.8\% of consultants and 8.6\% of registrars decided as pre-registration house officers while 39\% of consultants and 7\% of registrars chose geriatric medicine while a middle grade in another specialty. The strongest influences on choice were clinical aspects of the specialty (34.1\%) and inspirational seniors (26.2\%). However, 9.2\% of consultants and 10.1\% of registrars subsequently regretted their career decision. Geriatric medicine seems to be a career choice for doctors of increasing maturity and including more posts in foundation programmes may not improve recruitment as anticipated. Although a small number of doctors regretted choosing geriatric medicine as a career, this was rarely to do with core aspects of the specialty.}, issn = {1470-2118}, URL = {https://www.rcpjournals.org/content/6/5/469}, eprint = {https://www.rcpjournals.org/content/6/5/469.full.pdf}, journal = {Clinical Medicine} }