The barrier method as a new tool to assist in career selection: covert observational study

摘要: Objective To determine if senior doctors’ parking habits and skills are associated with clinical specialty and, so, whether observation of junior could provide guidance in choice specialty. Design Covert observational study. Setting Pass-card controlled consultants’ car park (parking lot), December 2009. Participants 103 consultants entering the on three consecutive mornings. Main outcome measures The outcomes were sex consultants, manner approaching barrier (pass-card ready or not), time taken to park, exit vehicle, walk a designated point. Results Approaches recorded for (79 men, 24 women): 28 anaesthetists (22 six women), 29 physicians (internists, 18 11 14 radiologists (nine five 32 surgeons (30 two women). (card ready) differed by but not sex. total (seconds) significantly between specialties: surgery (median 68, interquartile range 61-71 seconds), anaesthesia (82, 76-91), radiology (86, 70-103), general medicine (112, 96-136). was overall longer among women, this explained their (men women matched did differ). Conclusions gain entry across specialties. Surgical fastest, followed consultant radiologists, slowest. Sex an influencing factor. If reproducible studies similar nature “barrier method” allow low cost means guiding doctors career selection.