To be or not to be rheumatologist: survey among Belgian medical students and internal medicine trainees: what do certified rheumatologists think about the current rheumatology training program?

In several countries, there have been increasing concerns over the years that fewer medical students or trainees choose rheumatology as a specialty. The aim of this three-step survey is to study the motivational factors for students and trainees in internal medicine to choose for rheumatology as a future career option and the idea among experienced rheumatologists about the needs for changes in the training program. An online survey was distributed among students in medical training (in the final 3 years) and trainees in internal medicine from the Ghent University and University Hospital. Questions concerned the level of clinical exposure to rheumatology and the motivation about becoming rheumatologist. Next, experienced rheumatologists were asked about the needs to change the current training. Descriptive data are shown and chi-squared tests were calculated to assess differences between groups (based on gender and exposure). Logistic regression was performed to study associations between demographic variables and choosing rheumatology as career. Only a minority of students (17%) and about half of trainees (45%) were ever exposed to rheumatology. Only 11% of students and 17% of trainees considered becoming rheumatologist. There was no difference in choice based on gender but previous exposure seemed to play an important role, and especially during the pre-specialty years. Univariate logistic regression identified the year of training and exposure as predictors for choosing rheumatology. Multivariate analysis only retained exposure as significantly associated (odds ratio (95% CI) = 2.88 (1.51-12.58)). Rheumatology is considered to be a fascinating discipline among Belgian students and trainees. Exposure during pre-specialty years is the strongest predictor for choosing rheumatology as future career option.