Elsevier Health’s Clinician of the Future 2023: Education Edition, the third instalment in the program, unveils insights from over 2000 medical and nursing students, shedding light on their perspectives, challenges, and aspirations
The third report, published as part of Elsevier Health’s Clinician of the Future programme, serves as the global health ecosystem’s leading pulse on the opportunities and challenges facing doctors and nurses.
With this latest study, we hoped to envision the Clinician of the future by listening to the voices of over 2000 medical and nursing students and the faculty who guide them to succeed in their careers.
As of June this year, there were over 125,000 vacancies in secondary care in England, and over 10% of all nursing posts were listed as unfilled.
While there is a critical need to support the current healthcare workforce, now more than ever, Health and Education organisations must pause and listen to medical and nursing students and see the world from their perspective. Only through this lens can we continue to support them throughout training and their transition into clinical practice.
Students are seeking balance and looking ahead
Many medical and nursing students in the UK are committed to healthcare and are positive about their education, with 9 out of 10 saying they feel devoted to improving patients’ lives. However, with concerns about their mental health combined with external worries, many are already considering leaving patient-facing roles or leaving healthcare altogether.
Just over half of medical and nursing students in the UK feel they have a good study-life balance, and this is mirrored by 57% of students reporting they are worried about their mental well-being. Many factors contribute to this challenge, but alarmingly, 74% of those surveyed also feel overwhelmed with the information they need to retain.
Just over half of medical and nursing students in the UK feel they have a good study-life balance
How is staff shortage impacting students?
Current clinicians’ pressures are also not going unnoticed by today’s students. Many voice their concerns about the expectations that will be placed on them when they enter clinical practice against the backdrop of a depleted workforce, treatment backlogs, and burnout.
Data from the report shows that 75% of medical and nursing students in the UK are concerned about healthcare staff shortages and their impact on them in their future roles, while 64% believe they will suffer from clinician burnout.
While most clinicians today perceive their role as being involved in direct patient care, workforce shortages may soon be exacerbated due to current students’ changing attitudes and goals.
20% of those training to be a doctor or nurse in the UK are considering quitting their undergraduate studies. Further to this, 58% already see their current studies as a stepping stone towards a broader career in healthcare that will not involve directly caring for patients, despite these roles being those that are most in demand.
The role of generative AI and technology in education and clinical practice
For today’s students and tomorrow’s clinicians, generative AI tools are set to change the landscape, influencing everything from how they study to how they will work with patients.
Students largely acknowledge the potential benefits of AI for their studies and future as clinicians, with the impact of these new technologies already being visible. Today, 53% of medical and nursing students in the UK say they are excited about the possibilities of AI for their studies, and 44% have already used generative AI tools to support their education.
Looking ahead to clinical practice, as many as two-thirds of medical and nursing students in the UK believe the widespread use of digital health technologies will enable the positive transformation of healthcare. The report additionally highlights that 55% of medical and nursing students in the UK believe clinical decisions will soon be made with AI tools, and 54% agree that most patients will use AI tools to help manage treatment.
However, medical and nursing students are also concerned about the shift to a digital-first approach. Of those surveyed, 59% of UK medical and nursing students believe the widespread use of Digital Health Technologies will burden clinicians’ responsibilities, and a further 70% say remote consultations will negatively impact clinicians’ ability to demonstrate empathy with patients.
Partnering with students to help navigate the future of healthcare
Students themselves are drivers of change, and their experiences now will be significantly influential in determining the clinician’s future role.
Elsevier Health is committed to helping future healthcare professionals by directly engaging and listening to them. We recognise the challenges they face, their concerns for tomorrow, the health ecosystem as a whole, and the role we can play in helping them navigate future opportunities.
Through the Clinician of the Future programme, we can set the views of students alongside those of current practising doctors and nurses to indicate future trends in healthcare and highlight potential problems to address. With these insights, we aim to develop better solutions that ease the burden on the next generation of clinicians and enable them to deliver the best possible care for their future patients.
For more information, visit: https://www.elsevier.com/promotions/clinician-of-the-future-education-edition
This piece was written and provided by Elizabeth Munn, Managing Director of Global Medical Education Elsevier
