Reasons for and perceived barriers to applying for cardiology training: the 2024 British Junior Cardiologists' Association starter survey.

Abstract

Understanding the reasons for, and perceived barriers to, applying for cardiology training is vital to interpret current application trends and address modifiable barriers to entry. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on behalf of the British Junior Cardiologists' Association (BJCA) to assess the opinions of resident doctors interested in pursuing a career in cardiology. Data were collected on six domains: demographic information, intention to pursue a career in cardiology, prior clinical and academic experiences, reasons for and perceived barriers to applying for cardiology training (assessed using a Likert scale from one to five), and the impact of the transition from core medical training to internal medicine training. Responses were received from 171 of 307 (56%) eligible BJCA members. Of 171 participants, 109 (63.7%) stated they would definitely, and 29 (17.0%) would probably, apply for cardiology training. Formal research training was limited; of those who had published research, 77 (45.0%) had published fewer than five articles. The primary motivating factor for applying was the opportunity to perform invasive procedures [mean 4.2 ± standard deviation (SD) 1.0]; competition was identified as the most significant barrier, on average (3.8 ± SD 1.2). The transition to internal medicine training was viewed by 111 respondents (64.9%) as primarily serving the purpose of service provision. These data should allow potential applicants to make an informed decision as to their specialty of choice. Addressing modifiable barriers to entry may encourage a more diverse range of resident doctors to apply for cardiology training.