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Table 5 Multinomial logistic regression analysis of doctors choice of specialty (n = 184). Comparison group is n = 95 doctors choosing Medicine (UNADJUSTED)

From: Factors influencing specialty choice and the effect of recall bias on findings from Irish medical graduates: a cross-sectional, longitudinal study

 

UNADJUSTED

General Practice (n = 28)

Surgery (n = 61)

RRR(95% CI)

p value

RRR(95% CI)

p value

Age

1.28 (1.11–1.47]

0.001

0.95 [0.82–1.09]

0.470

Sex Female (v. Male)

1.19 [0.48–2.96]

0.704

0.44 [0.22–0.87]

0.017

Study pathway

 GEM entry (v. DEM)

3.21 [1.31–7.86]

0.011

1.31 [0.65–2.64]

0.452

Migration intention

 Go abroad (LBR & LP) v. Remain

0.35 [0.14–0.82]

0.016

0.62 [0.31–1.21]

0.162

Factors influencing career choice

 Own aptitude/skills

0.64 [0.30–1.33]

0.235

1.21 [0.65–2.25]

0.537

 Work-life balance

4.31 [1.26–14.69]

0.020

0.55 [0.32–0.95]

0.031

 What I really want to do

0.58 [0.27–1.25]

0.167

0.83 [0.45–1.53]

0.559

 Intellectual satisfaction

0.41 [0.22–0.78]

0.007

0.84 [0.50–1.41]

0.517

 Acceptable hours/working conditions

7.05 [1.64–30.37]

0.009

0.58 [0.35–0.96]

0.034

 Career prospects

0.45 [0.23–0.87]

0.018

1.10 [0.65–1.85]

0.727

 Self-appraisal of own skills/aptitude

0.56 [0.27–1.17]

0.122

1.63 [0.90–2.95]

0.104

 Career fitting my domestic circumstances

4.41 [1.82–10.72]

0.001

0.73 [0.46–1.16]

0.184

 Experience of job so far

0.36 [0.18–0.73]

0.005

0.92 [0.54–1.55]

0.747

 Career and promotion prospects

0.32 [0.15–0.68]

0.003

0.99 [0.55–1.76]

0.971

 Availability of career posts

0.83 [0.45–1.51]

0.536

0.99 [0.62–1.60]

0.979

 Amount of patient contact

1.48 [0.76–2.88]

0.243

0.57 [0.35–0.93]

0.026

 Availability postgraduate training places

0.76 [0.41–1.41]

0.383

1.42 [0.86–2.33]

0.166

 Future financial prospects

1.04 [0.55–1.96]

0.907

1.82 [1.07–3.08]

0.026

 Location and transport

0.80 [0.49–1.31]

0.377

1.32 [0.78–1.66]

0.512

 Potential earnings

1.41 [0.80–2.50]

0.239

1.36 [0.88–2.09]

0.166

 A particular teacher/department

0.18 [0.09–0.36]

0.000

0.75 [0.47–1.19]

0.220

 Experience of subject as a student

0.94 [0.55–1.62]

0.837

0.93 [0.62–1.41]

0.751

 Advice from others

0.49 [0.26–0.96]

0.037

0.66 [0.39–1.11]

0.120

 Spouse/Partner’s career

1.42 [0.90–2.24]

0.131

1.28 [0.91–1.80]

0.163

 Continuity of patient care

3.44 [1.78–6.64]

0.001

0.61 [0.39–0.97]

0.035

 Current financial debt

1.25 [0.77–2.04]

0.367

1.13 [0.77–1.66]

0.522

 Inclinations before medical school

1.45 [0.86–2.43]

0.166

1.13 [0.75–1.71]

0.095

  1. Bold values denote significance at the p < 0.05 level
  2. KEY: GP General Practice, LBR Leave But Return, LP Leave Permanently, RRR Relative Risk Ratio, CI Confidence Interval