Barriers and motivators to specializing in geriatrics and strategies for recruitment: Scoping review

Abstract

While the barriers to specializing in geriatrics are known, motivators behind why medical trainees choose geriatrics are not as well understood. It is also unknown if recruitment strategies in the literature address these barriers and motivators. The aim of this systematic scoping review is to examine the current literature on recruitment strategies alongside motivators and barriers for specializing in geriatrics. Eligible articles for this scoping review either focused on motivators or barriers among trainees (medical students, resident-physicians, fellows) or recruitment strategies. A scoping search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and PsychINFO. Data was extracted on article characteristics and themes. 88 of 2064 articles were eligible and included. Personal fulfillment emerged as the most common theme for motivators, contrary to prior studies that cite positive role modeling. Financial disincentive remained the most common barrier, followed by limited exposure and "futile" practice. Promising interventions beyond financial compensation include defining geriatrics better, emphasizing the high job satisfaction rates, increasing clinical exposure for medical students, and additional funding for academic centers to recruit academic geriatricians. Policymakers and medical educators should consider multiple strategies that target the motivators, as well as the barriers to pursuing geriatrics.

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