Background: The actual value of medical dissertations is under current disc
ussion. Studies concerning medical dissertation focused on successful candi
dates only. Therefore, data about physicians without "MD" are still lacking
.
Persons and Methods: We therefore performed a representative study of both,
physicians with and without the "dr. med." degree. Using an anonymous ques
tionnaire we asked for reasons to perform a doctoral thesis.
Results: A total of 321 questionnaires could be evaluated (successful candi
dates n = 181; unsuccessful candidates n = 140). Nearly 96% have attempted
to perform a medical dissertation at the beginning of their studies. Only 4
% never had this intention. However, 67% answered that writing a medical di
ssertation has no relevance in clinical practice. For 80% of the successful
physicians, it was the first attempted dissertation, they judged the super
vision as very good or good. Physicians who did not write a medical dissert
ation stated that deficits in planning and supervising were the main reason
for prematurely breaking off. 90% of the successful dissertationists thoug
ht that it had been personally meaningful and recommended the procedure to
younger physicians. However, two-thirds of the practicing physicians withou
t "MD" still intend to write a thesis.
Conclusion: We conclude that the medical dissertation is highly rated in te
rms of personal and scientific value and should therefore remain a part of
medical studies and science.