Table 3 Factors influencing specialty choice a great deal, as specified by the doctors in year 5: 1.) Comparison of doctors in anaesthesia and in other hospital specialties in year 10. 2.) Comparison of men and women working in anaesthesia in year 10 (gender comparison column). Percentages in bold denote a statistically significant difference (χ2 with Bonferroni corrections) between the distributions in anaesthesia and those in other careers within each gender for a particular factor
Percentages rating factor as influencing career choices “A great deal” | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Factor | Men working in | Women working in | Gender comparison | ||||
Anaesthesia | Other hospital specialties | p | Anaesthesia | Other hospital specialties | p | p | |
Wanting a career that fits my domestic situation | 22.3 | 22.2 | 1 | 33.5 | 32.7 | .82 | .001 |
Wanting a career that fits with acceptable hours/ working conditions | 42.1 | 35.4 | .01 | 51.3 | 47.8 | .25 | .01 |
Future financial prospects | 10.7 | 14.3 | .06 | 5.6 | 4.5 | .41 | .02 |
Career and promotion prospects | 32.9 | 29 | .12 | 30.4 | 19.7 | <.001 | .53 |
Self-appraisal of own skills/ aptitudes | 61 | 57.8 | .24 | 62.9 | 60.4 | .41 | .65 |
Advice from others | 15.3 | 15 | .93 | 16 | 13 | .14 | .87 |
Experience of chosen subject as a student | 16.7 | 25.4 | <.001 | 16.6 | 27.3 | <.001 | 1.00 |
A particular teacher / department | 18.1 | 30.3 | <.001 | 17.6 | 30 | <.001 | .98 |
Inclinations before medical school | 4.8 | 12.8 | <.001 | 2.4 | 10.7 | <.001 | .12 |
Experience of job so far | 72 | 71 | .73 | 73.9 | 71.6 | .41 | .61 |
Enthusiasm / commitment: what I really want to do | 71.7 | 80.1 | <.001 | 72.7 | 81.7 | <.001 | .82 |
Other reasons | 29.3 | 33.3 | .53 | 38.8 | 33 | .43 | .28 |
Financial circumstances whilst training | 3.3 | 5.9 | .36 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 1 | .68 |