Table 2 Differences between Students' (n = 119) + Interns' (n = 84)* Views on Unpopular Specialties

Emergency Medicine

Very Interested*

Not at all Interested

Female

38 (40%)

51 (53%)

0.001

Age (years)

27.5

29.0

0.012

Interest in Surgery Incl. Sub‡

108 (53%)

51 (25%)

0.001

Interest in Anesthesiology

20 (10%)

24 (12%)

0.029

Interest in Family Medicine

87 (43%)

51 (25%)

0.037

Interest in Ophthalmology

61 (30%)

12 (6%)

0.004

Specialty with Surgery/Procedures

108 (53%)

71 (35%)

0.037

Would be more attractive if physician's

assistants were added to the team

128 (63%)

75 (37%)

0.001

A Specialty with a Focus on Caring for the Elderly (Geriatrics)

Female

48 (50%)

37 (39%)

0.040

Interest in Family Medicine

102 (50%)

43 (21%)

0.033

Specialty with Long-Term Care

121 (60%)

77 (38%)

0.003

Specialty with Work Only

in the Community

51 (25%)

12 (6%)

0.043

Insufficient exposure

during medical school

128 (63%)

69 (34%)

0.031

Anesthesiology

Females

22 (23%)

48 (50%)

0.002

Interest in Surgery Incl. Sub

93 (46%)

59 (29%)

0.004

Interest in Dermatology

47 (23%)

18 (9%)

0.022

Specialty with Surgery/Procedures

126 (62%)

61 (30%)

0.005

Specialty without the

possibility for private practice

110 (54%)

61 (30%)

0.022

Much pressure at work

110 (54%)

69 (34%)

0.017

Difficult working conditions

after residency

106 (52%)

69 (34%)

0.005

Would be more appealing

if there were less night and weekend

duties during residency

126 (62%)

97 (48%)

0.014

Would be more appealing

if there were more opportunities for

academic advancement

108 (53%)

65 (32%)

0.015

Would be more appealing if more

time was allotted to continuing education

126 (62%)

42 (21%)

0.025