Dataset Information

A levels and intelligence as predictors of medical careers in UK doctors: 20 year prospective study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess whether A level grades (achievement) and intelligence (ability) predict doctors' careers.

Design

Prospective cohort study with follow up after 20 years by postal questionnaire.

Setting

A UK medical school in London.

Participants

511 doctors who had entered Westminster Medical School as clinical students between 1975 and 1982 were followed up in January 2002.

Main outcome measures

Time taken to reach different career grades in hospital or general practice, postgraduate qualifications obtained (membership/fellowships, diplomas, higher academic degrees), number of research publications, and measures of stress and burnout related to A level grades and intelligence (result of AH5 intelligence test) at entry to clinical school. General health questionnaire, Maslach burnout inventory, and questionnaire on satisfaction with career at follow up.

Results

47 (9%) doctors were no longer on the Medical Register. They had lower A level grades than those who were still on the register (P < 0.001). A levels also predicted performance in undergraduate training, performance in postregistration house officer posts, and time to achieve membership qualifications (Cox regression, P < 0.001; b=0.376, SE=0.098, exp(b)=1.457). Intelligence did not independently predict dropping off the register, career outcome, or other measures. A levels did not predict diploma or higher academic qualifications, research publications, or stress or burnout. Diplomas, higher academic degrees, and research publications did, however, significantly correlate with personality measures.

Conclusions

Results of achievement tests, in this case A level grades, which are particularly used for selection of students in the United Kingdom, have long term predictive validity for undergraduate and postgraduate careers. In contrast, a test of ability or aptitude (AH5) was of little predictive validity for subsequent medical careers.

SUBMITTER: McManus IC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC165701 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

A levels and intelligence as predictors of medical careers in UK doctors: 20 year prospective study.

McManus I C IC Smithers Eleni E Partridge Philippa P Keeling A A Fleming Peter R PR

BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 20030701 7407

<h4>Objective</h4>To assess whether A level grades (achievement) and intelligence (ability) predict doctors' careers.<h4>Design</h4>Prospective cohort study with follow up after 20 years by postal questionnaire.<h4>Setting</h4>A UK medical school in London.<h4>Participants</h4>511 doctors who had entered Westminster Medical School as clinical students between 1975 and 1982 were followed up in January 2002.<h4>Main outcome measures</h4>Time taken to reach different career grades in hospital or ge ...[more]

PMID: 12869457

Similar Datasets

Project description:ObjectivesThe increasing complexity and scale of medical education in the UK demands increasing numbers of medical educators. A small proportion of educators are qualified doctors, but did not reach completion of clinical training (CCT) to become consultants or general practitioners before pursuing a career exclusively in education. This study aimed to (1) explore the experiences of medical educators who left clinical practice as junior doctors and (2) identify the barriers to professional identity formation in this group.DesignIn this constructivist qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with medical educators. Audio data was recorded, transcribed and iteratively interpreted through the lens of reflexive thematic analysis.Setting and participantsNine UK-based educators were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling. Participants self-identified as medical educators who have experience of the transition from working as junior clinicians to holding positions exclusively in medical education. Participants had not completed clinical training before transitioning into medical education.ResultsThree broad themes were identified: (1) push factors away from clinical medicine; (2) pull factors towards medical education; (3) navigating professional identity formation as an educator. Educators reported that medical education offered positives such as improved work-life balance, professional development opportunities and a sense of being more 'upstream' in the world of education. Significant barriers to successful transition were reported, including: a lack of guidance; low respect for medical education by the wider medical profession; and disparity between the educational opportunities afforded to consultant colleagues compared with educators who left medicine before CCT.ConclusionsEducators who leave clinical medicine before CCT perceive themselves as being disadvantaged in their education careers. This study highlights that more could be done to tackle stigmatising perceptions of a medical education career and present medical education as a viable option to junior doctors.

Project description:To evaluate surgical experience among current doctors appointed into ophthalmology training posts since the introduction of the Modernising Medical Careers programme. Additionally, to identify regional variations in surgical experience and training programme delivery. A cross-sectional survey. The UK's four largest deaneries (Schools of Ophthalmology). Trainee ophthalmologists, all having completed three or more years of training, who were appointed to the new ophthalmic specialty training programme. The mean annual surgical rate for each deanery in phacoemulsification cataract extractions and experience in other common elective and emergency surgical operations. Second, to calculate the mean timetabled clinical activity. The responses of 40 doctors were analysed, with a response rate of 83%. Overall, the phacoemulsification rate was 73.52±29.24 operations/year. This was significantly higher in the South Thames Deanery (99.69±26.16, p=0.0005) and significantly lower in the North Western Deanery (48.08±19.72, p=0.0008). The annual mean complex cataract rate was 5.21±4.38. Only 40% were confident in dealing with the most common complication of cataract surgery (vitreous loss). The mean trabeculectomy (surgery for glaucoma) rate was 0.47±1.16 and for squint surgery it was 3.54±2.82 operations/year. Regarding the common ocular trauma surgery, 42.5% had not sutured a corneal laceration and 60% a globe rupture. 50% thought the training programme would adequately prepare them surgically. The timetabled clinical activity was highest in the South Thames Deanery (48.17 h/week) and lowest in the North Western Deanery (40.82 h/week) due to variations in the European Working Time Directive implementation and on-call commitments. Significant regional variations in surgical training experience exist between UK deaneries, particularly with respect to cataract surgery, and they appear to be correlated to timetabled activity. Experience and confidence levels in managing complex cataract surgery and complications were low and experience with previously commonly performed elective and emergency operations was minimal. Although doctors from all the regions surveyed were very likely to achieve the minimum cataract extractions required for specialist training completion, we have identified shortcomings of the current training programme that need attention.

Dataset Information

A levels and intelligence as predictors of medical careers in UK doctors: 20 year prospective study.

Objective

Design

Setting

Participants

Main outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

A levels and intelligence as predictors of medical careers in UK doctors: 20 year prospective study.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets