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Table 6 Multinomial logistic regression analysis of doctors choice of specialty (n = 184). Comparison group is n = 95 doctors choosing Medicine (Adjusted for age and sex unless stated otherwise)

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

 

ADJUSTED

General Practice (n = 28)

Surgery (n = 61)

RRR(95% CI)

p value

RRR(95% CI)

p value

Ageb

1.27 [1.10–1.46]

0.001

0.93 [0.81–1.08]

0.374

Sexa Female (v. Male)

1.17 [0.46–3.03]

0.738

0.44 [0.22–0.86]

0.017

Study pathway

 GEM entry (v. DEM)

1.35 [0.39–4.66]

0.640

3.13 [1.00–9.86]

0.051

Migration intention

 Go abroad (LBR & LP) v. Remain

0.61 [0.23–1.61]

0.319

0.54 [0.26–1.13]

0.102

Factors influencing career choice

 Own aptitude/skills

0.55 [0.24–1.24]

0.149

1.42 [0.75–2.70]

0.278

 Work-life balance

3.41 [0.97–12.00]

0.056

0.60 [0.34–1.06]

0.076

 What I really want to do

0.53 [0.23–1.23]

0.140

0.97 [0.51–1.84]

0.926

 Intellectual satisfaction

0.35 [0.17–0.71]

0.004

0.88 [0.52–1.50]

0.637

 Acceptable hours/working conditions

4.61 [1.03–20.60]

0.045

0.55 [0.31–0.96]

0.035

 Career prospects

0.37 [0.17–0.78]

0.009

1.08 [0.63–1.84]

0.782

 Self-appraisal of own skills/aptitude

0.61 [0.27–1.37]

0.230

1.82 [0.99–3.34]

0.055

 Career fitting my domestic circumstances

3.19 [1.27–8.02]

0.014

0.76 [0.46–1.23]

0.258

 Experience of job so far

0.40 [0.18–0.87]

0.021

0.93 [0.54–1.62]

0.808

 Career and promotion prospects

0.23 [0.10–0.56]

0.001

0.98 [0.53–5.42]

0.961

 Availability of career posts

0.75 [0.38–1.48]

0.411

0.98 [0.59–1.62]

0.943

 Amount of patient contact

1.39 [0.67–2.89]

0.370

0.56 [0.33–0.95]

0.033

 Availability postgraduate training places

0.74 [0.38–1.45]

0.385

1.47 [0.88–2.48]

0.144

 Future financial prospects

0.89 [0.42–1.87]

0.760

1.68 [0.98–2.88]

0.059

 Location and transport

0.71 [0.42–1.20]

0.197

1.31 [0.87–1.98]

0.196

 Potential earnings

1.14 [0.60–2.17]

0.688

1.29 [0.83–2.01]

0.263

 A particular teacher/department

0.18 [0.08–0.38]

0.000

0.80 [0.50–1.29]

0.364

 Experience of subject as a student

0.93 [0.52–1.65]

0.795

0.96 [0.62–1.49]

0.857

 Advice from others

0.39 [0.19–0.82]

0.013

0.68 [0.40–1.17]

0.163

 Spouse/Partner’s career

1.34 [0.83–2.19]

0.233

1.34 [0.94–1.91]

0.111

 Continuity of patient care

3.20 [1.59–6.41]

0.001

0.63 [0.39–1.02]

0.061

 Current financial debt

0.99 [0.57–1.72]

0.964

1.22 [0.81–1.85]

0.346

 Inclinations before medical school

1.13 [0.64–2.00]

0.673

1.11 [0.72–1.72]

0.640

  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
  3. aAdjusted for age bAdjusted for sex