Medical Students’ Predictions as to How Medical Practice Will Evolve by the Year 2050

Background Medicine is a field that is continually evolving, and sociopolitical events, medical advances, and challenges have contributed to the development of medicine over time and will continue to impact the future. There is current literature relating to the future of medicine focusing on technology, medical education, and the changing role of doctors. Aims This study aims to explore medical students' perceptions of how medical practice may be in the year 2050 and to utilize this information to guide potential changes that could be made to the medical school curriculum in order to best prepare students for these changes. Methods General qualitative methodology with a constructivist and interpretivist standpoint was used to conduct semi-structured focus groups using medical students at the University of Nottingham. The data were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Seven key themes were derived from the data: Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Technology, Genomics, The Future of the National Health Service (NHS), Epidemiological Uncertainty, The Changing Role of a Doctor, and Thoughts on How to Prepare for the Future. Conclusion The seven themes derived from the data represent the students' thoughts on how medical practice will change by the year 2050 when they are practicing. This can be organized again into sociopolitical events, medical advances, and challenges to provide a broad image of how medicine may be and thus how medical students can be prepared in medical school for their careers.