Factors associated with choosing hematology/oncology as a career path.

Abstract

e21026 Background: Limited studies have evaluated the factors that influence medicine trainees’ decisions to pursue hematology/oncology (heme/onc) as a career path. We conducted a cross-sectional pilot study at Northwell Health’s internal medicine residency program in Long Island, NY to better understand residents’ career choices and ways to broaden the appeal and accessibility of heme/onc. Methods: A 49-item REDCap survey collected demographic data and factors that affected residents’ choice of heme/onc. The factors were evaluated on a 10-point Likert scale (1 = “not at all important,” 10 = “extremely important”). Responses were collected confidentially. 21 responses were analyzed in this preliminary study. Results: Of the 21 respondents, 3 planned to pursue a career in heme/onc (HO group), while 17 showed interest in pursuing other subspecialities and 1 did not want to pursue a fellowship (non-HO group). Data was analyzed primarily by comparing mean Likert scale scores between HO and non-HO respondents, using T-tests where appropriate. The HO group rated “recent advances in the field” and “direction of future research/perceived progress” as more important in their choice of career compared to non-HO respondents (p = 0.01 and 0.06, respectively). Individuals in the HO group also rated continuity of patient care significantly higher compared to non-HO respondents (p = 0.04). Data from this study also showed that mentorship and perceived support in the pursuit of a career in heme/onc were considered critical factors when choosing the field (p = 0.05 and < 0.01, respectively). Additionally, the HO group rated the importance of heme/onc exposure during medical school higher than the non-HO group (Mean score 7.67 vs 5.18, p = 0.14), while the importance of exposure during residency was rated similarly (Mean score 6.67 vs 5.71, p = 0.54). Conclusions: The findings in this preliminary study suggest that a belief in the field's overall trajectory and the desire for longitudinal patient relationships are key motivators when choosing heme/onc. Furthermore, this study highlights the importance of fostering a culture of mentorship and support to attract more residents to the field of heme/onc. Additionally, while not at the level of statistical significance, the difference between the HO and non-HO group with regards to exposure during medical school highlights the importance of early outreach and experiences. While limited in its generalizability and data analysis by its small sample size, the findings underscore the need for larger, multi-institutional studies to better understand career decision-making among residents and medical students. A follow-up study is planned to achieve this goal.