Analysis of factors influencing attrition among clinical traditional Chinese medical major graduates: based on a discrete choice experiment.

Background: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is essential for promoting health worldwide. Despite governmental support, TCM faces critical challenges, including workforce shortages and high attrition rates, with many clinical TCM graduates pursuing non-clinical careers. This study aims to explore the employment preferences of these graduates and to propose strategies for retaining TCM professionals, optimizing the input-output ratio of TCM education, and supporting the sustainable development of the TCM industry.

Job preferences among traditional Chinese medicine clinical graduates in China: a discrete choice experiment.

Background: Primary-level Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) healthcare institutions are currently facing a severe shortage of TCM professionals, highlighting the urgent need to explore the job preferences of TCM clinical graduates. This study aimed to investigate the stated job preferences of TCM clinical graduates when seeking employment.

Methods: A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted to assess the employment preferences of TCM clinical graduates from 16 TCM universities across China.