Table 2 Ratings of difficulty, interest, knowledge, and confidence for seven medical specialties

Medical students (n = 218)

 Cardiology

2.12 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

3.47 (0.06)

0.96

2.98 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

2.60 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

 Gastroenterology

2.58 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

3.62 (0.06)

0.09

3.22 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

2.78 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

 Respiratory

2.44 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

3.42 (0.06)

0.54

3.02 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

2.67 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

 Neurology

1.70 (0.05)

n/a

3.47 (0.07)

n/a

2.63 (0.05)

n/a

2.25 (0.05)

n/a

 Endocrinology

2.48(0.06)

 < 0.0001

3.47 (0.06)

0.99

3.07 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

2.67 (0.06)

 < 0.0001

 Rheumatology

2.07 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

3.39 (0.06)

0.34

2.91 (0.06)

0.0003

2.54 (0.05)

0.0001

 Nephrology

2.34 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

3.01 (0.06)

 < 0.0001

2.83 (0.05)

0.007

2.55 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

Resident trainees (n = 133)

 Cardiology

2.35 (0.06)

 < 0.0001

3.67 (0.07)

0.94

3.12 (0.06)

 < 0.0001

3.00 (0.06)

 < 0.0001

 Gastroenterology

2.68 (0.06)

 < 0.0001

3.44 (0.08)

0.04

3.15 (0.06)

 < 0.0001

3.02 (0.06)

 < 0.0001

 Respiratory

2.56 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

3.63 (0.07)

0.68

3.17 (0.05)

 < 0.0001

3.02 (0.06)

 < 0.0001

 Neurology

1.68 (0.06)

n/a

3.68 (0.08)

n/a

2.63 (0.08)

n/a

2.51 (0.08)

n/a

 Endocrinology

2.24(0.07)

 < 0.0001

3.44 (0.08)

0.04

2.84 (0.06)

0.034

2.82 (0.07)

0.003

 Rheumatology

2.12 (0.06)

 < 0.0001

3.71 (0.08)

0.79

3.05 (0.06)

 < 0.0001

2.93 (0.06)

 < 0.0001

 Nephrology

2.51 (0.06)

 < 0.0001

3.22 (0.08)

 < 0.0001

3.01 (0.06)

0.0002

2.94 (0.07)

 < 0.0001