Table 1 Reasons for Choosing a Medical Career.
From: Medical specialty considerations by medical students early in their clinical experience
| Question (factor)‡ | All | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 229) | (n = 104) | (n = 125) | |
| Helping patients | 74% | 71% | 78% |
| The scientific basis of medicine (2) | 36% | 40% | 36% |
| Employment security | 27% | 23% | 31% |
| The profession's image | 21% | 13% | 27%* |
| Economic potential (1) | 16% | 11% | 19%* |
| Potential for family life (1) | 14% | 15% | 13% |
| Influence of a role model | |||
| (family/friends) (3) | 13% | 11% | 15% |
| Influence of previous studies | 12% | 14% | 11% |
| Opportunity to perform research (2) | 12% | 10% | 14%§ |
| Influence of a role model | |||
| (physician) (3) | 12% | 11% | 13% |
| Illness of relative/friend | 10% | 17% | 4%§ |
| Previous employment experience | 4% | 5% | 3% |