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Concerns about the pathology job market dominate a popular online pathology forum and likely deterred American medical students from pursuing pathology residency.

ABSTRACT: From 2010 to 2019, 40.5% fewer senior students from United States (US) allopathic medical schools pursued pathology in the Main Residency Match. To possibly explain this trend, we sought to identify major concerns about pathology which were made during this time. Because the Student Doctor Network (SDN) website is widely used by students at American medical schools during the residency application process, SDN has been shown to influence career decisions. So, the 50 all-time most-viewed SDN pathology threads (as of February 2018) were analyzed. The words "job" and "jobs" were used in the title of 11 of the 50 (22%) threads, which altogether received more than 400,000 views. However, the term "job(s)" was rarely used by 14 other major medical specialties. Seven of the 11 (63.6%) job-related threads were created from 2009 to 2011, corresponding with the start of the decline in medical students pursuing pathology residency. It was reasoned that job-market concerns within SDN threads may have discouraged students from pursuing pathology. To test this hypothesis, 5 pathology residents were asked to read all 11 threads and then complete a survey. Most thread reviewers agreed that commenters, which included medical students, were concerned about the pathology job-market and that medical students who viewed the threads would be less likely to pursue pathology residency. Because more than 85% of SDN users are from the US, the threads likely had a greater impact on American medical students compared to foreign students. In conclusion, job-market concerns over the past decade are so prominent in the SDN pathology forum that they likely contributed to fewer seniors from US allopathic medical schools pursuing pathology residency. As of 2019, there are 12 job-related threads among the 50 all-time most-viewed, including threads created in 2016 and 2017. To improve recruitment, the pathology community should carefully review and address concerns about employment opportunities. Due to conflicting reports, additional studies are needed to determine if a mismatch in workforce supply and demand warrants prompt and thoughtful intervention.

SUBMITTER: Jajosky RP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6742846 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Concerns about the pathology job market dominate a popular online pathology forum and likely deterred American medical students from pursuing pathology residency.

Jajosky Ryan Philip RP Banks Mara M Jajosky Audrey N AN

Heliyon 20190911 9

From 2010 to 2019, 40.5% fewer senior students from United States (US) allopathic medical schools pursued pathology in the Main Residency Match. To possibly explain this trend, we sought to identify major concerns about pathology which were made during this time. Because the Student Doctor Network (SDN) website is widely used by students at American medical schools during the residency application process, SDN has been shown to influence career decisions. So, the 50 all-time most-viewed SDN path ...[more]

PMID: 31528744

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Project description:PURPOSE:To examine the role of radiation oncology (RO) graduates' application patterns and personal preferences in current labor concerns. METHODS AND MATERIALS:An anonymous, voluntary survey was distributed to 665 domestic RO graduates from 2013 to 2017. Questions assessed graduates' regional (Northeast [NE]; Midwest [MW]; South [SO]; West [WT]) job type and population size preferences. Top regional choice was compared across other categorical and numerical variables using the ?2 test and analysis of variance, respectively. RESULTS:Complete responses were obtained from 299 (45.0% response rate) participants: 82 (27.4%), 74 (24.7%), 85 (28.4%), and 58 (19.4%) graduated from NE, MW, SO, and WT programs. The most to least commonly applied regions were SO (69.2%), MW (55.9%), and then NE/WT (55.2% each). The first and last regional choices were the WT (29.4%) and MW (15.7%), respectively. The most and least common application and top choice preferences were consistent in terms of city size: >500,000 (86.0% and 64.5%, respectively) and <100,001 (26.1% and 7.0%, respectively). The majority of applicants applied to both academic and nonacademic positions (60.9%), with top job type choice being equally split. The majority of respondents independently received a job offer in their preferred region (75.3%), city population size (72.6%) or job type (81.9%). Additionally, 52.5% received a job offer that included all three preferences. Those who underwent residency training (44.3% vs 62.0%-83.6%, P < .001) or medical schooling (50.7% vs 56.3%-75.6%, P < .001) or grew up in the MW (60.8% vs 70.0%-74.7%, P < .001) were least likely to choose this region as their top regional choice compared with other regions. CONCLUSIONS:The MW and jobs in smaller cities are less appealing to RO graduates, even if they receive training in the MW, which may contribute to current job market concerns. Nonetheless, the majority of respondents received a job offer in the region, population size, and job type of their top choice. Assessing prospective candidates' city size and geographic preferences and prioritizing applicants who are compatible with positions may help address potential job market discrepancies.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Over the past 2 decades, online forums for mental health support have emerged as an important tool for improving mental health and well-being. There has been important research that analyzes the content of forum posts, studies on how and why individuals engage with forums, and how extensively forums are used. However, we still lack insights into key questions on how they are experienced from the perspective of their users, especially those in rural and remote settings. OBJECTIVE:The aim of our study was to investigate the dynamics, benefits, and challenges of a generalized peer-to-peer mental health online forum from a user perspective; in particular, to better explore and understand user perspectives on connection, engagement, and support offered in such forums; information and advice they gained; and what issues they encountered. We studied experiences of the forums from the perspective of both people with lived experience of mental illness and people who care for people with mental illness. METHODS:To understand the experience of forum users, we devised a qualitative study utilizing semistructured interviews with 17 participants (12 women and 5 men). Data were transcribed, and a thematic analysis was undertaken. RESULTS:The study identified 3 key themes: participants experienced considerable social and geographical isolation, which the forums helped to address; participants sought out the forums to find a social connection that was lacking in their everyday lives; and participants used the forums to both find and provide information and practical advice. CONCLUSIONS:The study suggests that online peer support provides a critical, ongoing role in providing social connection for people with a lived experience of mental ill-health and their carers, especially for those living in rural and remote areas. Forums may offer a way for individuals to develop their own understanding of recovery through reflecting on the recovery experiences and peer support shown by others and individuals enacting peer support themselves. Key to the success of this online forum was the availability of appropriate moderation, professional support, and advice.

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Dataset Information

Concerns about the pathology job market dominate a popular online pathology forum and likely deterred American medical students from pursuing pathology residency.

Publications

Concerns about the pathology job market dominate a popular online pathology forum and likely deterred American medical students from pursuing pathology residency.

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