There is a current knowledge gap in the experiences of medical/PhD students outside the US, as well as the views on the intercalated programme by senior academics supervising these students.Ĭurrently, one of the longest-running organised medical/PhD programme in Australasia is through the University of Otago in New Zealand.
For MD/PhD students, obstacles in balancing academic (clinical, research and educational) and family responsibilities were major considerations with regards to future career choices and research involvement. Kwan et al surveyed (using a multi-choice–based questionnaire) students from five academic medical schools in the US. Limited studies, however, have attempted to assess what factors (if any) enhanced or hindered the experience of trainee physician-scientists and their supervisors. There is no shortage of articles in the medical education literature lamenting the dwindling interest in physician-scientist training, and forewarning its adverse consequences. Further studies involving a larger cohort of intercalating students and their supervisors may allow for extrapolation of data to address these concerns. Whereas the combined programme has its advantages for student research and career development, extending the research-time may be worthwhile. The current study sheds light on the successes and challenges of an intercalated MBChB/PhD programme by considering the views of those most involved. Supervisors’ survey yielded two themes: characteristics of successful students, and optimising the intercalated programme. These were: motives for undertaking the intercalated degree, effect on career development, and perceived barriers. Three themes were identified through the analysis of the students’ responses. ResultsĪ total of 22 students (88% response rate) and 36 supervisors (58.3% response rate) responded to our survey. A deductive approach was used to interpret the themes and relate them to Vroom’s expectancy theory.
Data were analysed using a general inductive approach which involved coding responses, and grouping codes into common themes via an iterative process. Previous and current students of the MBChB/PhD programme at the University of Otago, and their supervisors, were invited to provide comments on the programme. Using Vroom’s expectancy theory as a conceptual framework, we explored the highlights, motivations and barriers of an intercalated MBChB/PhD programme as experienced by students of the programme and their supervisors. Several studies have warned about the diminishing physician-scientist breed.
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