Factors that may influence recruitment into academic obstetrics and gynaecology in European Union countries

Factors that may influence recruitment into academic obstetrics and gynaecology in European Union countries were studied by a questionnaire method. The survey attracted responses from 15 professors and nine clinical obstetricians and gynaecologists. The majority considered a clinical academic to be one who worked in public hospitals. Although 15 of 16 respondents did not think that the academics had a high status in society, 75% felt that young obstetricians and gynaecologists wished to pursue an academic career. Despite the fact that there was a reasonable prospect of promotion and reasonable salary many did not pursue academic medicine because of several factors. They were no governmental support, relatively lower pay compared with clinical colleagues, long hours of work, much severe competition because of few posts and poor condition of work.