Demographic variables | | | |
• Mean age, y | 26.1 | 23.9 | < .005 |
• Female sex, % | 51.1 | 58.2 | .194 |
• Single relationship status, % | 51.1 | 72.1 | < .005 |
• Parents received postgraduate education, % | 33.0 | 45.3 | .024 |
• Postgraduate education before medicine, % | 22.7 | 17.8 | .245 |
• Premedical science background, % | 88.5 | 91.4 | .358 |
• Premedical arts background, % | 17.2 | 9.4 | .018 |
• Family or friends in FM, % | 20.5 | 20.6 | .968 |
• Family or friends in any field of medicine, % | 35.2 | 39.2 | .458 |
• Home town population < 50 000, % | 42.0 | 20.3 | < .005 |
• Rural childhood (> 50% of childhood spent in rural setting), % | 39.8 | 20.7 | < .005 |
• Rural family ties, % | 58.0 | 34.9 | < .005 |
Attitudinal factors, mean score* | | | |
• Factor 1: medical lifestyle | 3.62 | 3.56 | .552 |
• Factor 2: societal orientation | 3.72 | 3.37 | < .005 |
• Factor 3: prestige | 1.82 | 2.01 | .044 |
• Factor 4: hospital orientation | 2.72 | 2.99 | .012 |
• Factor 5: varied scope of practice | 2.86 | 2.73 | .350 |
• Factor 6: role model | 3.93 | 3.40 | < .005 |
Attitudinal items, mean score* | | | |
• Good match to this career | 2.17 | 2.18 | .934 |
• Interesting patient population | 4.42 | 4.26 | .088 |
• Focus on nonurgent care | 2.78 | 2.66 | .330 |
• Dislike for uncertainty | 1.90 | 2.16 | .006 |
• Prefer medical to social problems | 2.20 | 2.56 | .016 |
• Research interests | 2.03 | 2.40 | .006 |
• Short postgraduate training | 2.24 | 1.88 | .005 |