Skip to main content

Table 4 The odds ratios for not starting studying medicine if making the decision now

From: Factors important in the choice of a medical career: a Finnish national study

 

1998

2008

 

n

OR (95 % C.I.)

n

OR (95 % C.I.)

Gender

Males

560

1

318

1

Females

1,156

1.16 (0.90 to 1.49)

857

1.92 (1.33 to 2.77)

Age

Under 30

260

1

167

1

30-34

776

1.62 (1.13 to 2.32)

490

1.25 (0.71 to 2.20)

35-39

573

1.14 (0.74 to 1.78)

406

1.25 (0.64 to 2.44)

40 or older

107

1.28 (0.69 to 1.22)

112

1.18 (0.76 to 1.81)

Time elapsed from the qualification as a physician

2-6 years

908

1

589

1

7-11 years

808

0.92 (0.69 to 1.22)

586

1.17 (0.76 to 1.81)

The most frequent motives for applying for medical school:

    
 

Interest in people

A lot

1,386

1

955

1

To some extent

209

1.22 (0.88 to 1.71)

154

1.57 (1.03 to 2.40)

Hardly at all

121

1.91 (1.27 to 2.88)

66

1.53 (0.85 to 2.78)

Prestigious profession

A lot

1,079

1

693

1

To some extent

424

1.21 (0.88 to 1.67)

339

1.00 (0.66 to 1.52)

Hardly at all

213

1.76 (1.13 to 2.75)

143

1.29 (0.71 to 2.32)

Wide range of professional opportunities

A lot

1,049

1

524

1

To some extent

310

1.51 (1.12 to 2.02)

309

1.70 (1.13 to 2.55)

Hardly at all

357

1.46 (1.10 to 1.95)

342

2.44 (1.67 to 3.57)

Vocation

A lot

708

1

495

1

To some extent

369

1.45 (1.05 to 2.00)

275

1.84 (1.19 to 2.84)

Hardly at all

639

2.57 (1.95 to 3.38)

405

2.64 (1.77 to 3.93)

Good salary

A lot

764

1

464

1

To some extent

552

0.75 (0.56 to 1.02)

451

0.88 (0.59 to 1.32)

Hardly at all

400

0.59 (0.40 to 0.86)

260

0.76 (0.45 to 1.28)

Achievements at school

A lot

952

1

475

1

To some extent

357

0.79 (0.58 to 1.08)

326

1.00 (0.66 to 1.50)

Hardly at all

407

1.00 (0.74 to 1.35)

374

0.99 (0.66 to 1.49)

Nagelkerke’s R-squared

 

0.103

 

0.098

Hosmer-Lemeshow

 

0.138

 

0.923

  1. The odds ratios with 95 % confidence intervals in binary logistic regression model for answering “No” to the question: “If you were starting your studies now, would you choose to be a physician?” in Physician 1998 and Physician 2008 studies. Note “statistically” significant (p < 0.05) values are in BOLD. The question was not asked in Junior Physician 88 study