Survey Is Subject to Bias

In the section on limitations of their study I would have considered it beneficial if Giblis et al. had also adressed the fact that the selected population developed their expectations based on a limited professional experience only. The results of this study certainly intend to and definitely should take influence on future medical career pathways. However, they should then be matched with results of a similar survey among doctors in the middle and at the end of their professional lives.
Another bias comes with the fact that the survey is tied to the current layout of medical education and practice. It therefore reflects the conditions of curative (repair) medicine. Hence future aspects of a paradigm shift towards health maintenance, for instance; that might decisively shape our profession, are being underrated.

DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2012.0736b

Dr. med. Klaus H. Seidenstücker

Tarp, klaus-h.seidenstuecker@t-online.de