Table 2 Univariate associations, comparing female with male RCS students
From: Gender equity at last: a national study of medical students considering a career in rural medicine
Variable | N = male respondents (%) | N = female respondents (%) | P-value (χ2 test) |
|---|---|---|---|
Age | Â | Â | 0.257 |
 Less than 25 years | 425 (50.9%) | 596 (53.6%) |  |
 25 years and older | 410 (49.1%) | 516 (46.4%) |  |
Rural background | Â | Â | 0.966 |
 Yes | 370 (44.1%) | 493 (43.9%) |  |
 No | 469 (55.9%) | 630 (56.1%) |  |
Which area have you lived longest? | Â | Â | 0.654 |
 Urban | 488 (57.7%) | 641 (56.7%) |  |
 Rural | 358 (42.3%) | 490 (43.3%) |  |
Intention for work upon completing training |  |  | < 0.001 |
 Urban | 353 (41.6%) | 375 (33.3%) |  |
 Rural | 495 (58.4%) | 750 (66.7%) |  |
Preference for RCS | Â | Â | 0.002 |
 First preference | 545 (64.4%) | 803 (71.1%) |  |
 Not first preference | 301 (35.6%) | 326 (28.9%) |  |
Preferred specialty upon RCS entry |  |  | < 0.001 |
 GP | 189 (22.3%) | 370 (32.8%) |  |
 Specialist | 659 (77.7%) | 758 (67.2%) |  |
Preferred specialty upon RCS exit |  |  | < 0.001 |
 GP | 185 (21.8%) | 355 (31.4%) |  |
 Specialist | 663 (78.2%) | 774 (68.6%) |  |
RCS has increased GP interest |  |  | < 0.001 |
 Strongly agree/somewhat agree | 480 (56.6%) | 728 (64.5%) |  |
 Not agree | 368 (43.4%) | 401 (35.5%) |  |
RCS has increased rural interest |  |  | < 0.001 |
 Strongly agree | 326 (38.4%) | 539 (47.7%) |  |
 Somewhat agree | 358 (42.2%) | 455 (40.3%) |  |
 Not agree | 165 (19.4%) | 136 (12%) |  |
RCS has increased remote interest | Â | Â | 0.690 |
 Strongly agree/somewhat agree | 344 (40.6%) | 505 (44.7%) |  |
 Not agree | 504 (59.4%) | 626 (55.3%) |  |
I would recommend RCS to others | Â | Â | 0.026 |
 Strongly agree | 618 (73.5%) | 876 (78.6%) |  |
 Somewhat agree | 159 (18.9%) | 177 (15.9%) |  |
 Not agree | 64 (7.6%) | 62 (5.6%) |  |
Clinical supervisors provided adequate clinical responsibilities | Â | Â | 0.037 |
 Strongly agree | 347 (40.8%) | 526 (46.5%) |  |
 Somewhat agree | 394 (46.4%) | 479 (42.4%) |  |
 Not agree | 109 (12.8%) | 125 (11.1%) |  |
Clinical supervisors provided appropriate supervision | Â | Â | 0.003 |
 Strongly agree | 352 (41.5%) | 554 (49%) |  |
 Somewhat agree | 397 (46.8%) | 474 (41.9%) |  |
 Not agree | 99 (11.7%) | 103 (9.1%) |  |
Overall perception of support whilst on RCS | Â | Â | 0.055 |
 Strongly agree | 414 (48.7%) | 601 (53.1%) |  |
 Somewhat agree | 322 (37.9%) | 370 (32.7%) |  |
 Not agree | 114 (13.4%) | 161 (14.2%) |  |
Overall positive impact of RCS on wellbeing | Â | Â | 0.072 |
 Strongly agree | 398 (46.9%) | 587 (52%) |  |
 Somewhat agree | 276 (32.5%) | 339 (30%) |  |
 Not agree | 175 (20.6%) | 203 (18%) |  |
I felt socially isolated during my RCS placement | Â | Â | 0.627 |
 Strongly agree/somewhat agree | 258 (30.4%) | 356 (31.5%) |  |
 Not agree | 592 (69.6%) | 775 (68.5%) |  |
My clinical supervisors treated me with respect | Â | Â | 0.056 |
 Strongly agree | 466 (54.9%) | 681 (60.2%) |  |
 Somewhat agree | 320 (37.7%) | 371 (32.8%) |  |
 Not agree | 63 (7.4%) | 80 (7.1%) |  |
Overall, my clinical school provided an excellent clinical education | Â | Â | 0.092 |
 Strongly agree | 464 (54.7%) | 653 (57.8%) |  |
 Somewhat agree | 290 (34.2%) | 382 (33.8%) |  |
 Not agree | 95 (11.2%) | 95 (8.4%) |  |
Rural practice is too hard | Â | Â | 0.029 |
 Strongly agree/somewhat agree/neutral | 155 (18.3%) | 167 (14.8%) |  |
 Somewhat disagree | 495 (58.5%) | 649 (57.7%) |  |
 Strongly disagree | 196 (23.2%) | 309 (27.5%) |  |
I get a sinking (anxious) feeling when I think of working in a rural setting | Â | Â | 0.097 |
 Strongly agree/somewhat agree/neutral | 186 (22%) | 208 (18.5%) |  |
 Somewhat disagree | 371 (43.8%) | 491 (43.6%) |  |
 Strongly disagree | 290 (34.2%) | 426 (37.9%) |  |
I get a strong positive feeling when thinking about working in a rural setting |  |  | < 0.001 |
 Strongly agree/somewhat agree | 578 (68.2%) | 850 (75.5%) |  |
 Not agree | 269 (31.8%) | 276 (24.5%) |  |
I see people like me taking up rural practice |  |  | < 0.006 |
 Strongly agree/somewhat agree | 534 (63.2%) | 778 (69.1%) |  |
 Not agree | 311 (36.8%) | 348 (30.9%) |  |