Perceptions towards Nephrology Specialty: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

There is a decline in the interest in pursuing a career in nephrology globally as well as locally in Northern Ireland. There is also an expansion in the burden of kidney disease worldwide due to a combination of factors like higher detection rates, increase in population size and improved life expectancy. Workforce shortages in nephrology have a direct impact on provision of care for people with kidney disease. Understanding perceptions among doctors towards nephrology is an important factor in acknowledging the barriers in recruitment and advocating evidence based changes to improve current practices.

The aim of this study is to explore both the positive and the negative perceptions among medical students and trainees towards nephrology as a specialty in order to understand the factors that are most influential in either choosing or forgoing a career in nephrology.

Scoping review methodology was used to address the research question through a phenomenological lens. Sixteen articles were included that studied the perceptions towards nephrology mainly through questionnaires and also through direct quotations. Basic numerical analysis and content analysis was completed.

A total of 3745 participants including medical students, trainees and consultants participated in the 16 studies were included in this review at an international level. Most of the studies used survey (questionnaire) as their methodology (n= 10). The seven themes that emerged to describe perceptions towards nephrology were exposure to specialty; complex specialty; mentorship; work-life balance; financial compensation; personal interest; and procedural component. Exposure to specialty was the most influential factor in future career choice decision. The other factors that could improve recruitment in nephrology include innovative and novel teaching methods, good role models, flexible training and working patterns, and adequate financial remuneration.

In order to rekindle interest in nephrology we need a multi-pronged approach based on ensuring early exposure to the specialty, good mentorship, holistic clinical experience covering different aspects of the specialty and the opportunity of flexibly moulding one's interests and skills whilst ensuring service provision, and with an emphasis on adequate financial remuneration.