Implications of not matching to a first-choice discipline: a family medicine perspective

Authors

  • Wayne Woloschuk University of Calgary
  • Douglas Myhre University of Calgary
  • James Dickinson University of Calgary
  • Shelley Ross University of Alberta

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.36842

Keywords:

family medicine, residents, CaRMS match, lifestyle satisfaction, well-being, identity

Abstract

Background: Family medicine is often selected as an alternate career choice by medical students who do not match to their first choice discipline. Consequently, family medicine residency programs accept and train some residents who prepared for and intended a career in another specialty. The implications of this warrant investigation.

Methods: Graduates (2006-2011) of Albertan family medicine residency programs were surveyed to examine differences between physicians who indicated family medicine was their first choice discipline and those who indicated that it was not their first choice. Survey questions targeted practice location, preparedness for practice, perceptions of family medicine, lifestyle satisfaction, and well-being. Principal components analysis was used to examine the factor structure of our survey items and ANOVA and Chi square were used to compare mean scores and proportions, respectively.

Results: The overall response rate was 47.2% (307/651). Most (263) respondents reported that family medicine was their first choice discipline (yes-group); 42 respondents indicated that it was not (no-group) and two did not answer. The two groups were similar demographically. The no-group reported significantly lower mean scores on perceptions of family medicine. There were no significant differences between the two groups in their preparedness for practice and measures of lifestyle satisfaction and well-being.

Conclusion: Irrespective of their perceptions of the discipline, the respondents who did not match to their first choice discipline found family medicine to be a viable career option.

Author Biographies

  • Wayne Woloschuk, University of Calgary

    Program Evaluation Consultant,

    Cumming School of Medicine

  • Douglas Myhre, University of Calgary

    Associate Dean,

    Distributed Learning and Rural Initiatives,

    Cumming School of Medicine

     

  • James Dickinson, University of Calgary

    Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health Sciences,

    Cumming School of Medicine

  • Shelley Ross, University of Alberta

    Associate Professor and Medical Education Researcher

    Department of Family Medicine

    Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry

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Published

2017-07-04

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 3 (2017)

Section

Original Research

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How to Cite

1.
Implications of not matching to a first-choice discipline: a family medicine perspective. Can. Med. Ed. J [Internet]. 2017 Jul. 4 [cited 2025 Dec. 15];8(3):e30-36. Available from: https://dev.journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/36842