Background Among doctors in the United Kingdom, there is growing sentiment regarding delaying specialist training, emigrating to practice medicine abroad, or leaving the profession altogether. This trend may have substantial implications for the future of the profession in the United Kingdom. The extent to which this sentiment is also present in the medical student population is not well understood. Objective Our primary outcome is to determine current medical students’ career intentions after graduation and upon completing the foundation program and to establish the motivations behind these intentions. Secondary outcomes include determining which, if any, demographic factors alter the propensity to pursue different career paths available to a medical graduate, determining which specialties medical students plan on pursuing, and understanding current views on the prospect of working in the National Health Service (NHS). Methods The Ascertaining the Career Intentions of Medical Students (AIMS) study is a national, multi-institution, and cross-sectional study in which all medical students at all medical schools in the United Kingdom are eligible to participate. It was administered via a novel, mixed methods, and web-based questionnaire and disseminated through a collaborative network of approximately 200 students recruited for this purpose. Both quantitative and thematic analyses will be performed. Results The study was launched nationally on January 16, 2023. Data collection was closed on March 27, 2023, and data analysis has commenced. The results are expected to be available later in the year. Conclusions Doctors’ career satisfaction within the NHS is a well-researched topic; however, there is a shortage of high-powered studies that are able to offer insight into medical students’ outlook on their future careers. It is anticipated that the results of this study will bring clarity to this issue. Identified areas of improvement in medical training or within the NHS could be targeted to improve doctors’ working conditions and help retain medical graduates. Results may also aid future workforce-planning efforts. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/45992

The circadian rhythm (CR) is a fundamental biological process regulated by the Earth’s rotation and solar cycles. It plays a critical role in various bodily functions, and its dysregulation can have systemic effects. These effects impact metabolism, redox homeostasis, cell cycle regulation, gut microbiota, cognition, and immune response. Immune mediators, cycle proteins, and hormones exhibit circadian oscillations, supporting optimal immune function and defence against pathogens. Sleep deprivation and disruptions challenge the regulatory mechanisms, making immune responses vulnerable. Altered CR pathways have been implicated in diseases such as diabetes, neurological conditions, and systemic autoimmune diseases (SADs). SADs involve abnormal immune responses to self-antigens, with genetic and environmental factors disrupting self-tolerance and contributing to conditions like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Inflammatory Myositis. Dysregulated CR may lead to increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, contributing to the systemic responses observed in SADs. Sleep disturbances significantly impact the quality of life of patients with SADs; however, they are often overlooked. The relationship between sleep and autoimmune conditions, whether causal or consequential to CR dysregulation, remains unclear. Chrono-immunology investigates the role of CR in immunity, offering potential for targeted therapies in autoimmune conditions. This paper provides an overview of the connections between sleep and autoimmune conditions, highlighting the importance of recognizing sleep disturbances in SADs and the need for further research into the complex relationship between the CR and autoimmune diseases.

Background: Among doctors in the United Kingdom, there is growing sentiment regarding delaying specialist training, emigrating to practice medicine abroad, or leaving the profession altogether. This may have significant implications for the future of the profession in the UK. The extent to which this sentiment is also present in the medical student population is unknown. Methods: The AIMS study is a national, multi-institution, cross-sectional study of all medical students at all medical schools in the United Kingdom. It will be administered via an online questionnaire and disseminated through a collaborative network recruited for this purpose. Our primary outcome is to determine current medical students' career intentions after graduation and upon completing the Foundation Programme, and to establish the motivations behind these intentions. Secondary outcomes include determining which, if any, demographic factors alter the propensity to pursue different career paths available to a medical graduate, determining which specialties medical students plan on pursuing and understanding current views on the prospect of working in the National Health Service (NHS). Both quantitative analysis and thematic analysis will be used. Discussion: Doctors' career satisfaction within the NHS is a well-researched topic, however, there is a shortage of high-powered studies able to offer insight into medical students' outlook on their future careers. It is anticipated that the results from this study will bring clarity to this issue. Identified areas of improvement in medical training or within the NHS could be targeted to improve doctors' working conditions and help retain medical graduates. Results may also aid future workforce planning efforts. Trial Registration: Not Applicable. Key words: Medical Students; NHS; Career Intentions; Attitudes and Opinions; Workforce Planning; Medical Education

BACKGROUND Among doctors in the United Kingdom, there is growing sentiment regarding delaying specialist training, emigrating to practice medicine abroad, or leaving the profession altogether. This trend may have substantial implications for the future of the profession in the United Kingdom. The extent to which this sentiment is also present in the medical student population is not well understood. OBJECTIVE Our primary outcome is to determine current medical students’ career intentions after graduation and upon completing the foundation program and to establish the motivations behind these intentions. Secondary outcomes include determining which, if any, demographic factors alter the propensity to pursue different career paths available to a medical graduate, determining which specialties medical students plan on pursuing, and understanding current views on the prospect of working in the National Health Service (NHS). METHODS The Ascertaining the Career Intentions of Medical Students (AIMS) study is a national, multi-institution, and cross-sectional study in which all medical students at all medical schools in the United Kingdom are eligible to participate. It was administered via a novel, mixed methods, and web-based questionnaire and disseminated through a collaborative network of approximately 200 students recruited for this purpose. Both quantitative and thematic analyses will be performed. RESULTS The study was launched nationally on January 16, 2023. Data collection was closed on March 27, 2023, and data analysis has commenced. The results are expected to be available later in the year. CONCLUSIONS Doctors’ career satisfaction within the NHS is a well-researched topic; however, there is a shortage of high-powered studies that are able to offer insight into medical students’ outlook on their future careers. It is anticipated that the results of this study will bring clarity to this issue. Identified areas of improvement in medical training or within the NHS could be targeted to improve doctors’ working conditions and help retain medical graduates. Results may also aid future workforce-planning efforts. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/45992

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