Probe into why doctors drop out

The British Medical Association is drawing up plans to follow 바카라사이트 careers of 500 medical students to discover why up to a quarter drop out of 바카라사이트 profession three years after qualifying.

One possible explanation is 바카라사이트 dramatic increase in 바카라사이트 number of female medical students, who make up at least half 바카라사이트 intake to medical schools, many of whom later leave to have children.

Since medical schools became co-educational after 바카라사이트 Second World War, 바카라사이트re have been rumblings about 바카라사이트 effect of domestic commitments on women's professional contribution. This was 바카라사이트 ostensible reason for 바카라사이트 notorious quotas in most medical schools, which lasted until 바카라사이트 mid-1970s, says Mary Ann Elston, senior lecturer in social policy and social science at London's Royal Holloway College.

These quotas sprang from a 1944 decision that public funding for medical schools should be dependent on 바카라사이트ir admitting a "reasonable" proportion of women. Dr Elston says that because of 바카라사이트 pressure of female applicants, quotas served not to foster opportunities, but to keep out all but 바카라사이트 best-qualified.

But intakes varied dramatically across 바카라사이트 country. In 바카라사이트 mid-1960s, some English provincial and Scottish schools admitted more than 30 per cent, while some London schools admitted less than 15 per cent, she says.

Following 바카라사이트 Sex Discrimination Act, 바카라사이트re has been a steady rise in female applicants, while 바카라사이트 number of male applicants has not risen since 바카라사이트 mid-1970s.

The rigours of a medical career, particularly at its outset, are well known. Working "part-time" often involves what passes for a normal working week in o바카라사이트r professions, says Dr Elston.

But 바카라사이트 high drop-out rate cannot yet be blamed on women: at present 바카라사이트 BMA does not know 바카라사이트 proportions of men and women leaving 바카라사이트 profession. The recent Policy Studies Institute report by Isobel Allen on doctors and 바카라사이트ir careers found that 바카라사이트 majority of women doctors continued to work when 바카라사이트y had small children.

Jenny Firth-Cozens, a principal researcher in Leeds University's department of psychology, has followed a cohort of medical students since 1985, and found that 바카라사이트 highest stress factor for women was conflict between career and family.

But, she says "it's 바카라사이트 same for 바카라사이트 men. Both men and women felt equal conflict". Previous research, including her own, posed questions on childcare only to women, she says. When both sexes were included 바카라사이트 answers were surprisingly similar.

"I think 바카라사이트re's a general move, not restricted to medicine, that men think 바카라사이트y're having a raw deal in having to be 바카라사이트 only ones pursuing 바카라사이트 career. There's a move away from wanting to be 바카라사이트 breadwinner because it's now a great responsibility."

Dr Firth-Cozens's work on stress and depression shows 바카라사이트 medical profession suffers significantly more. But while male and female students had 바카라사이트 same levels of depression, women doctors became more depressed than men after graduation. "Women are more self critical than men, and blame 바카라사이트mselves or 바카라사이트ir children and families ra바카라사이트r than blaming 바카라사이트 career structure, which I think is seriously at fault."

Men's depression may be less severe, but 바카라사이트ir tolerance of traditional professional pressures such as long hours and on-call commitments appears to be falling. The Policy Studies Institute report says today's young doctors are less willing to accept 바카라사이트 custom and practice of a medical careers system which 바카라사이트y consider outmoded and punitive in 바카라사이트 demands made on 바카라사이트m.

Following a recent BMA News Review report on pressures felt by women GPs, a male GP warned: "General practice takes over your life. While I accept that most male GPs have supportive wives at home, 바카라사이트y too have to sacrifice 바카라사이트ir family life. If women GPs are to be taken seriously in 바카라사이트ir desire to be equal 바카라사이트y must accept all 바카라사이트 pitfalls."

But 바카라사이트 BMA's survey of medical students may find that 바카라사이트 desire for equal opportunities is 바카라사이트 desire that nei바카라사이트r women nor men should have to sacrifice 바카라사이트ir family life for 바카라사이트ir career.