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The following is a summary of “Consequences of career progression barriers experienced by doctors in GP training: an interpretative phenomenological study,” published in the October 2024 issue of Primary Care by Edirisooriya et al.
National efforts to address differential attainment (DA) in medical education have made limited progress. Despite extensive research on contributing factors, the gap in career progression persists.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to explore the lived experiences of doctors facing DA and career progression barriers.
They used interpretative phenomenological analysis. The 6 doctors released from GP training were interviewed before joining a targeted intervention scheme.
The results showed three interrelated themes. ‘Career insecurity’ involved uncertainty about career prospects and goals, with participants frequently questioning their future and decision to persist. ‘Psychological injury’ included feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, low energy and mood, and traumatic experiences. ‘Social injury’ highlighted consequences to familial, social relationships, and wider societal impacts like attrition. The cohort consisted of 4 international medical graduates and 2 UK graduates, with 3 participants being neurodiverse.
Investigators highlighted the consequences of differential attainment and career progression barriers. The study emphasized the need for urgent action to address these challenges and narrow the attainment gap.
Source: tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14739879.2024.2395401
