6 Prior to MMC, doctors could take several years after graduation to decide on their future specialty. 5 The transition to specialist training after 2 years was designed as part of the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) initiative in 2005 to help doctors progress more quickly to their desired careers by reducing time spent in unnecessary or inappropriate training. The programme is a workplace-based training programme, typically consisting of six 4-month rotations in different specialties. In the UK, medical graduates undertake 2 years of core medical training known as the Foundation Programme prior to being admitted to specialist training. This is particularly relevant given the current discordance between the distribution of medical practitioners across specialties and the future health needs of an ageing population.
1 2 There is, thus, considerable interest in identifying factors that facilitate effective career decision-making in medicine. Doctors’ career decisions are a crucial factor in determining the long-term structure and composition of the health workforce and strongly influence doctors’ job satisfaction and enjoyment. Understanding the determinants of medical career paths and the decision-making processes of doctors in training is of critical importance to health service providers, government agencies, policy makers and medical educators and trainers.
