Table 4.

Summary of respondent agreement, mean PECOAS values, and mean medical student loan debts

Question	Percent agree	Percent disagree	Mean PECOAS agree	Mean PECOAS disagree	p	Mean student loan debt agree	Mean student loan debt disagree	p
1) I have already or may in the future delay buying a house because of my educational debt	77.7	13.7	−0.31	0.17	<0.0001	124,000	76,000	<0.0001
2) I have already or may in the future delay getting married because of my educational debt	34.5	44	−0.3	−0.14	0.0001	125,000	106,000	0.0001
3) I have already or may in the future put off having children because of my educational debt	58.7	26.2	−0.34	−0.002	<0.0001	126,000	95,000	<0.0001
4) In the future I plan to practice in an underserved area	30.8	36.5	−0.26	−0.24	0.36	124,000	116,000	0.069
5) I am likely to practice in an inner-city area upon graduation from residency	32.8	31.4	−0.22	−0.29	0.041	121,000	116,000	0.16
6) Practicing in a rural area interests me	29.2	48.5	−0.31	−0.18	0.0014	115,000	116,000	0.72
7) Choose to become a physician again, if you were to revisit that choice	71.9	11.2	−0.21	−0.23	0.35	110,000	136,000	0.0001
8) My educational debt often causes me high levels of stress	50.8	27.2	−0.39	0.06	<0.0001	136,000	78,000	<0.0001
9) I worry about my ability to pay back my educational debt	68.6	20.7	−0.38	0.21	<0.0001	131,000	72,000	<0.0001
10) I am concerned about my ability to manage my educational debt	65.2	23.3	−0.37	0.15	<0.0001	135,000	70,000	<0.0001