Table 3 Characteristics of the selection criteria of students interested in various medical specialties

Interesting Specialty

92%

91%

89%

66%

89%

92%

96%

90%*

Direct Aid to Patients

79%

77%

78%

78%

79%

78%

78%

78%

Beside Specialty

82%

69%*

89%

66%‡

83%

71%‡

78%

73%

Long-term Care

48%

36%‡

50%

36%*

70%

41%‡

30%

43%*

Direct Patient Care

72%

57%‡

60%

68%*

82%

57%

51%

65%

Family Time

90%

75%‡

81%

81%

88%

79%*

73%

83%

Controllable Lifestyle

71%

72%

69%

72%

82%

69%*

67%

73%

Time to Raise Children

82%

65%‡

70%

73%

88%

68%‡

66%

74%

Daytime Work Only

42%

21%‡

23%

31%

45%

24%*

20%

32%

Work Outside Hospital

12%

12%

11%

13%

25%

9%‡

11%

14%*

Immediate Satisfaction

52%

57%

38%

60%*

40%

57%*

73%

48%‡

Performing Procedures

33%

55%

27%

57%*

23%

54%‡

60%

44%‡

Much Action

25%

43%*

25%

42%*

22%

41%‡

66%

28%‡

Operating Room Time

10%

45%‡

17%

43%*

14%

41%‡

37%

35%

Work Only in Hospital

15%

22%

27%

16%

19%

20%

25%

18%

Academic Opportunities

43%

57%‡

59%

49%*

27%

59%*

61%

49%

Prestigious Specialty§

8%

15%*

13%

12%

0%

16%‡

21%

10%*

Prestigious Specialty**

7%

12%

11%

11%

3%

13%‡

16%

9%

High Salary

44%

54%

38%

56%*

39%

54%

58%

49%

Clerkship Experience

50%

41%*

51%

41%

42%

32%

51%

42%

Family Orientation

50%

30%‡

42%

36%

74%

22%‡

28%

40%

On-Calls as an Attending

32%

36%

37%

33%

22%

38%*

57%

28%‡

Medical Administration

20%

23%

24%

21%

24%

22%

31%

20%

Private Practice

48%

58%

48%

57%

38%

59%*

58%

54%

Without Long-term Care

10%

15%

5%

17%*

11%

14%*

13%

13%