Table 3 Factors influencing choice of specialty and their distribution among male and female students
From: Medical students’ choices of specialty in The Gambia: the need for career counseling
Female (n = 58 54.7%) | Male (n = 48 45.3%) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SC | MC | N | MNC | SNC | SC | MC | N | MNC | SNC | ||||||||||||
n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | P-value | |
Lack of specialists in that area? | 25 | 43.1 | 13 | 22.4 | 17 | 29.3 | 1 | 1.7 | 2 | 3.5 | 22 | 45.8 | 7 | 14.6 | 9 | 18.8 | 1 | 2.1 | 9 | 18.8 | 0.5427 |
Shorter hours of practice | 4 | 6.9 | 3 | 14.6 | 22 | 47.9 | 5 | 4.2 | 24 | 27.1 | 3 | 6.3 | 7 | 14.6 | 23 | 47.9 | 2 | 4.2 | 13 | 27.1 | 0.0652 |
On-call schedule | 7 | 12.1 | 5 | 8.6 | 25 | 43.1 | 9 | 15.5 | 12 | 20.7 | 6 | 12.5 | 7 | 14.6 | 25 | 52.1 | 4 | 8.3 | 6 | 12.5 | 0.4901 |
Flexibility of specialty | 15 | 25.9 | 8 | 13.8 | 22 | 37.9 | 6 | 10.3 | 7 | 12.1 | 10 | 20.8 | 14 | 29.2 | 17 | 35.4 | 3 | 6.3 | 4 | 8.3 | 0.4642 |
Interaction with other physicians | 16 | 27.6 | 21 | 36.2 | 16 | 27.6 | 3 | 5.2 | 2 | 3.5 | 20 | 41.7 | 14 | 29.2 | 11 | 22.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 6.3 | 0.1941 |
The reputation of specialty | 24 | 41.4 | 10 | 17.2 | 22 | 37.9 | 1 | 1.7 | 1 | 1.7 | 16 | 33.3 | 11 | 22.9 | 15 | 31.3 | 1 | 2.1 | 5 | 10.4 | 0.3548 |
The duration of residency program | 8 | 13.8 | 5 | 8.6 | 29 | 50.0 | 1 | 1.7 | 15 | 25.9 | 5 | 10.4 | 15 | 31.3 | 22 | 45.8 | 3 | 6.3 | 4 | 8.3 | 0.4642 |
Work pressure | 10 | 17.2 | 11 | 19.0 | 22 | 37.9 | 4 | 6.9 | 11 | 19.0 | 5 | 10.4 | 9 | 18.8 | 20 | 41.7 | 6 | 12.5 | 8 | 16.7 | 0.7525 |
Interest in research | 31 | 53.5 | 9 | 15.5 | 12 | 20.7 | 4 | 6.9 | 2 | 3.5 | 22 | 45.8 | 14 | 29.2 | 10 | 20.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 4.2 | 0.8909 |
Interest in long term relations with patients | 23 | 39.7 | 13 | 22.4 | 18 | 31.0 | 1 | 1.7 | 3 | 5.2 | 11 | 22.9 | 19 | 39.6 | 15 | 31.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 6.3 | 0.3531 |
Physician patient interaction | 31 | 53.5 | 10 | 17.2 | 11 | 19.0 | 1 | 1.7 | 5 | 8.6 | 16 | 33.3 | 19 | 39.6 | 9 | 18.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | 8.3 | 0.2233 |
Diversity of patients | 21 | 36.2 | 15 | 25.9 | 16 | 27.6 | 4 | 6.9 | 2 | 3.5 | 13 | 27.1 | 16 | 33.3 | 13 | 27.1 | 3 | 6.3 | 3 | 6.3 | 0.4854 |
Anticipated income | 11 | 19.0 | 11 | 19.0 | 27 | 46.6 | 5 | 8.6 | 4 | 6.9 | 8 | 16.7 | 12 | 25.0 | 18 | 37.5 | 1 | 2.1 | 9 | 18.8 | 0.1979 |
Focus on community health | 24 | 41.4 | 12 | 20.7 | 15 | 25.9 | 2 | 3.5 | 5 | 8.6 | 18 | 38.3 | 14 | 29.8 | 11 | 23.4 | 2 | 4.2 | 2 | 4.2 | 0.8992 |
Focus on urgent care | 38 | 65.5 | 6 | 10.3 | 12 | 20.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 3.5 | 24 | 50.0 | 12 | 25.0 | 8 | 16.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | 8.3 | 0.1884 |
The curriculum | 19 | 32.8 | 15 | 25.9 | 22 | 37.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 3.5 | 12 | 25.0 | 14 | 29.2 | 17 | 35.4 | 1 | 2.1 | 4 | 8.3 | 0.3433 |
The intellectual content of specialty | 33 | 56.9 | 7 | 12.1 | 15 | 25.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 5.2 | 29 | 60.4 | 8 | 16.7 | 9 | 18.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 4.2 | 0.5619 |
That you are likely to stay in the city | 12 | 20.7 | 3 | 5.2 | 26 | 44.8 | 4 | 6.9 | 13 | 22.4 | 5 | 10.4 | 7 | 15.6 | 22 | 45.8 | 2 | 4.2 | 12 | 25.0 | 0.7238 |
The individual’s competencies | 28 | 48.3 | 9 | 15.5 | 17 | 29.3 | 2 | 3.5 | 2 | 3.5 | 24 | 50.0 | 9 | 18.8 | 12 | 25.0 | 1 | 2.1 | 2 | 4.2 | 0.7394 |
Mentor emulation | 14 | 24.1 | 10 | 17.2 | 26 | 44.8 | 3 | 5.2 | 5 | 8.6 | 17 | 35.4 | 14 | 29.2 | 13 | 27.1 | 2 | 4.2 | 2 | 4.2 | 0.0383 |
Advice from faculty members | 9 | 15.5 | 7 | 12.1 | 26 | 44.8 | 5 | 8.6 | 11 | 19.0 | 5 | 10.4 | 10 | 20.8 | 19 | 39.6 | 3 | 6.3 | 11 | 22.9 | 0.6738 |
Advice from friends | 6 | 10.3 | 9 | 15.5 | 25 | 43.1 | 2 | 3.5 | 16 | 27.6 | 6 | 12.5 | 8 | 16.7 | 18 | 37.5 | 5 | 10.4 | 11 | 22.9 | 0.6467 |
Advice from parents | 14 | 24.1 | 10 | 17.2 | 20 | 34.5 | 3 | 5.2 | 11 | 19.0 | 6 | 12.5 | 13 | 27.1 | 18 | 37.5 | 2 | 4.2 | 9 | 18.8 | 0.5279 |
Advice from practicing physicians | 15 | 25.9 | 12 | 20.7 | 23 | 39.7 | 1 | 1.7 | 7 | 12.1 | 12 | 25.0 | 10 | 20.8 | 17 | 35.4 | 2 | 4.2 | 7 | 14.6 | 0.9368 |