Factors Influencing an Early Career Choice of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Among Chinese Medical Students: An Exploratory Survey.

Objective: The study aimed to explore factors influencing Chinese medical students' career choices, especially in choosing child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) as their specialty.

Method: A 23-item online survey was conducted among third-year medical students at Peking University Health Science Center to explore the factors currently influencing their career choices, as well as their preferences and factors that influence the choice of CAP as a career specialty. Their preferences for CAP-focused curricula were also surveyed.

Results: Of the 169 students surveyed, 149 (88.17%) responded. Over 80% of the students began contemplating their future career choices, even before their undergraduate studies commenced. Sixty (40.27%) students showed moderate to high interest in CAP, and the top three factors that rendered CAP most attractive included interest in helping society (58.33%), having opportunities to work with children and adolescents (56.67%), and working in an interesting field (53.33%). The primary obstacle to choosing CAP as a specialty was the burden of working with patients and their parents (70.79%). Among the students interested in CAP, 85.00% were interested in engaging with CAP through clinical internships and practical training. Curricula related to psychotherapy, consultation liaison, and psychopharmacology were identified as the most attractive areas.

Conclusions: Positive attitudes toward CAP were found among the responders. To better align with the career development needs of medical students and promote workforce development in the CAP specialty, early career exposure to CAP, such as encompassing clinical clerkships, specialized internships, and interdisciplinary education, should be given more consideration in undergraduate curriculum systems.