Securing tomorrow's workforce: insights from a Danish survey on factors influencing junior doctors' specialization in geriatric medicine

PURPOSE: With aging populations, more geriatricians are needed. Despite the demand, filling specialist-training positions remains challenging, and the factors influencing junior doctors' career choices in Denmark are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing junior doctors' decisions to choose geriatric specialist training.

METHODS: A literature review informed the development of a survey, which included demographic and open-ended questions about prior geriatric training, reasons for pursuing geriatric positions, and perspectives on geriatric specialist training. The survey targeted junior doctors completing their introductory year positions in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at Danish hospitals from March to September 2023. Qualitative data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS: Out of approximately 130 eligible respondents, 75 provided responses. Among them, 13% (n = 10) expressed interest in pursuing a geriatric career, and 44% (n = 33) indicated a potential interest. In total, 60% (n = 45) reported having received geriatric training during medical school. Thematic analysis generated three themes. 1) Achieving core geriatric medicine competencies: This included receiving geriatric education and practicing in specialized geriatric services, e.g., hospital-at-home. 2) Achieving work-life balance: This appeared particularly important in multi-center training programs or during emergency department rotations. 3) Enhancing recruitment strategies: This involved acknowledging talents, utilizing role models, increasing visibility in medical school curricula, and strengthening the specialty's professional reputation. Finally, ten recommendations were generated.

CONCLUSION: Recruiting junior doctors to pursue a career in geriatric medicine may benefit from targeted learning in geriatric competencies, the presence of role models, and ensuring that clinical training practices support work-life balance.