MMC cohort study

The RCPCH is undertaking a cohort study of paediatric trainees who began their run-through training in 2007. We are following a group of paediatric doctors through their complete training programme.

The first part of the study relating to the ST1 year of the cohort was completed in 2008 and Part 2 relating to the ST3 year began in February 2011. It is intended to follow up the cohort when they reach ST5 and ST7. 

Part 1 - 2008

The online survey was sent to a total of 440 ST1 and FTSTA1 trainees. A total of 352 (80%) responded. 294 were ST1 trainees representing 87% of those contacted and 50 were FTSTA1 (49% of those contacted).

Key messages from the data:

• Women are likely to make up a significantly higher proportion of the future consultant workforce
• Trainees' plans to work part-time once they qualify will have implications for the future organisation of services
• Around 70% of ST1s chose paediatrics because they found it rewarding and enjoyed it as an undergraduate
• Effects on work-life balance and on-call commitments are common reservations about choosing paediatrics
• Nearly 30% of ST1s felt forced to make their specialty choice early. Only 4% of the current cohort intend to be 100% community paediatricians when they complete their training.
• Over 90% of ST1s intend to work in the UK when they complete their training

MMC cohort study - main findings (PDF, 15KB, 2 pages)

Part 2 - 2010 to 2011

We contacted all those who took part in the original study (Part 1) and sent them a questionnaire in February 2011 relating to their training career as at August 2010, ie when they should have been approaching the end of their ST3 year.

Data collection for Part 2 has now been completes and detailed analysis of the resutls will be released shortly. A series of folloe up interviews have been conducted with a sample of those who have left paediatric run-through training.

The aims of the second part of the study are to:

• To make factual comparisons of the cohort's career intentions in terms of the type of paediatrician they wish to become, the sub-specialty or special interest they expect to work in, their expectations regarding part-time/full-time working and geographical restrictions
• The level of confidence they have about their career choices and reasons for changes in their views since ST1
• The current status of their training in terms of exam passes, out of programme experience and whether they are on middle grade rotas
• To identify those original cohort members who are no longer paediatric trainees in order to carry out structured interviews to assess why they have left paediatrics
• To look at all the reasons for changes in career intentions and to examine the cohort's attitude to work-life balance