Table 2 Specialty preference
Male N(%) | Female N(%) | Total | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Preferred Specialty | ||||
Surgical specialties | 97 (40) | 46 (15) | 144 (26) | < 0.0001a |
Internal medicine | 39 (16) | 49 (16) | 88 (16) | |
Pediatrics | 6 (2) | 28 (9) | 34 (6) | |
OB/GYN | 11 (5) | 33 (11) | 44 (8) | |
Other | 17 (7) | 54 (17) | 71 (13) | |
Not decided yet | 73 (30) | 103 (33) | 177 (32) | |
Factors | ||||
On-call schedule | 49 (20) | 104 (33) | 153 (27) | 0.0006a |
Hours of work | 77 (31) | 103 (33) | 180 (32) | 0.73 |
Duration of residency | 84 (34) | 96 (31) | 182 (32) | 0.351 |
Not requiring much physically exertion | 50 (20) | 129 (41) | 180 (32) | < 0.0001a |
Balance between work and being a good parent/raising child | 94 (38) | 195 (62) | 290 (52) | < 0.0001a |
I want to give time to my friends, family (spouse, parents, other family members) and hobbies. | 110 (45) | 162 (52) | 272 (48) | 0.116 |
Anticipated income | 165 (67) | 135 (43) | 301 (54) | < 0.0001a |
Prestige of that specialty/ specialty with high social status | 49 (20) | 42 (13) | 92 (16) | 0.035a |
A specialty that I like and find interesting | 175 (71) | 232 (74) | 409 (73) | 0.517 |
Career prospects, specialty that would achieve my life goal | 111 (45) | 122 (39) | 233 (42) | 0.125 |
Specialty in line with technical skills (that requires Talent for specific skill) | 86 (35) | 69 (22) | 156 (28) | 0.0006a |
Intellectual content of the specialty (Intellectual challenge) | 83 (34) | 81 (26) | 165 (29) | 0.037a |
Having a family member from that specialty | 10 (4) | 11 (4) | 21 (4) | 0.721 |
Advice from family members | 20 (8) | 47 (15) | 67 (12) | 0.014a |
Advice from spouse/future spouse | 18 (7) | 41 (13) | 60 (11) | 0.029a |
Advice from mentor, a teacher | 22 (9) | 32 (10) | 54 (10) | 0.667 |
Interaction with physicians from same gender | 18 (7) | 16 (5) | 35 (6) | 0.269 |
Interaction with residents from same gender | 12 (5) | 17 (5) | 29 (5) | 0.785 |
Type or gender of the patient in that specialty | 19 (8) | 34 (11) | 53 (9) | 0.219 |
Less exposure to patients | 27 (11) | 17 (5) | 44 (8) | 0.015a |
I chose a specialty needed by the community (Community needs more experts in this specialty). | 98 (40) | 109 (35) | 208 (37) | 0.199 |
Personal life experience | 59 (24) | 70 (22) | 129 (23) | 0.619 |
The teachings of my religion/philosophy have a role in choosing this specialization. | 26 (11) | 50 (16) | 76 (14) | 0.069a |
Society view of physician gender in this specialty. | 22 (9) | 54 (17) | 76 (14) | 0.005a |
Personal values and ambition. | 115 (47) | 167 (53) | 283 (50) | 0.143 |