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Table 2 Motives of males and females for applying for medical school

From: Factors important in the choice of a medical career: a Finnish national study

 

Males

Females

Differences between genders

 

1988

1998

2008

Sig.

1988

1998

2008

Sig.

1988

1998

2008

n

889-892

577-582

322-325

 

835-839

1,222-1,226

874-880

    
 

%

%

%

p

%

%

%

p

%-units

%-units

%-units

Good salary

56

49

49

**

47

43

36

**

9**

6*

13**

Prestigious profession

64

66

65

 

56

61

56

*

8**

5*

9**

A physician in family or among close relatives

15

18

21

*

11

13

14

 

4

5**

7**

Interest in research

 

19

17

  

17

14

  

2

3

Shortage of physicians

4

6

2

**

4

5

1

**

0

1

1

Wide range of professional opportunities

61

58

43

**

64

63

45

**

−3

−5*

−2

Own or close relative’s illness

6

5

4

 

7

8

6

 

−1

−3**

−2

Career guidance

3

2

1

*

4

4

3

 

−1

−2*

−2**

Achievements at school

47

46

35

**

58

60

42

**

−11**

−14**

−7*

Interest in people

71

72

74

 

83

85

84

 

−12**

−13**

−10**

Vocation

30

32

35

 

42

45

45

 

−12**

−13**

−10**

  1. Proportions of males and females who answered “Quite a lot” or “Very Much” to the question “To what extent did the following factors influence your desicion to apply for a medical school?”, and differences in propotions in Junior Physician 88, Physician 1998, and Physician 2008 studies. The items are sorted by the difference between genders in 2008. Note **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05. “Interest in research” was not asked in Junior Physician 88 study