Table 3.
Comparing those who chose Ophthalmology with those who chose other careers, percentages and numbers of doctors who specified whether they had definitely, probably or not really made up their minds about their first choice of long-term career, at one (1974–2002), three (1974–2000) and five (1974–1980, 1993 & 1996) years after graduation
| First choice of long term career | |||
| Definiteness of choice | Ophthalmology | Other Surgery | Other Careers |
| Year One | |||
| Definitely | 36.0 (169) | 36.0 (1403) | 26.3 (5257) |
| Probably | 45.4 (213) | 47.2 (1841) | 49.1 (9833) |
| Not really | 18.6 (87) | 16.8 (653) | 24.6 (4936) |
| Total | 100.0 (469) | 100.0 (3897) | 100.0 (20026) |
| Year Three | |||
| Definitely | 68.1 (273) | 43.5 (1237) | 46.5 (9164) |
| Probably | 23.7 (95) | 47.4 (1348) | 40.6 (8012) |
| Not really | 8.2 (33) | 9.1 (259) | 12.9 (2540) |
| Total | 100.0 (401) | 100.0 (2844) | 100.0 (19716) |
| Year Five | |||
| Definitely | 79.6 (218) | 72.0 (1330) | 64.8 (9888) |
| Probably | 17.5 (48) | 24.4 (450) | 29.0 (4422) |
| Not really | 2.9 (8) | 3.7 (68) | 6.3 (961) |
| Total | 100.0 (274) | 100.0 (1848) | 100.0 (15271) |
The numbers of respondents who did not to answer this question were 4 (Year One), 3 (Year Three) and 1 (Year Five) of those choosing Ophthalmology; 42 (Year One), 13 (Year Three) and 12 (Year Five) of those choosing Other surgical specialties, and 183 (Year One), 491 (Year Three) and 281 (Year Five) of those choosing Other Careers.
Chi-square tests on the percentage making a definite choice: Year One; ophthalmology vs. other surgery χ21 = 0.0, p = 1.0, ophthalmology vs. other careers χ21 = 22.0, p < 0.001 – Year Three; ophthalmology vs. other surgery χ21 = 84.4, p < 0.001, ophthalmology vs. other careers χ21 = 72.8, p < 0.001 – Year Five ophthalmology vs. other surgery χ21 = 6.6, p = 0.01, ophthalmology vs. other careers χ21 = 25.3, p < 0.001