Table 3.

Strong sense of calling among PCPs, by religious/spiritual characteristics, 2009–2010

Characteristics	n (%)	Bivariate P (χ²)	Multivariate OR (95% CI)^a
Religious affiliation
None	26 (26)	<0.001	Referent
Hindu	13 (27)		1.4 (0.5–4.0)
Jewish	35 (33)		1.4 (0.7–2.9)
Muslim	25 (46)		3.3 (1.2–8.8)^*
Roman Catholic/Eastern Orthodox	95 (45)		2.4 (1.3–4.5)^**
Protestant, evangelical	59 (60)		4.5 (2.3–8.9)^***
Protestant, nonevangelical	94 (40)		1.7 (0.9–3.1)
Other	16 (35)		1.6 (0.6–4.0)
Attendance at religious services
Never	28 (23)	<0.001	Referent
1×/mo	160 (37)		2.0 (1.2–3.5)^*
≥2×/mo	173 (49)		3.3 (1.9–5.7)^***
Importance of religion
Not very important/not applicable, I have no religion	61 (27)	<0.001	Referent
Fairly important	96 (33)		1.4 (0.9–2.1)
Very important	122 (48)		2.4 (1.5–3.7)^***
Most important	86 (64)		5.0 (2.9–8.8)^***
Intrinsic religiosity
Low	119 (31)	<0.001	Referent
Moderate	70 (35)		1.1 (0.7–1.7)
High	172 (56)		2.8 (1.9–4.0)^***
Spirituality
Low	70 (22)	<0.001	Referent
Moderate	155 (42)		2.5 (1.7–3.7)^***
High	140 (63)		5.5 (3.5–8.6)^***

These data come from a national survey in 2009–2010 among a stratified random sample of 1504 US PCPs who strongly agree with the statement, “For me, the practice of medicine is a calling.” Referent group is those physicians who disagree or somewhat agree with this statement. Results are adjusted for survey design. CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio; PCP, primary care physician.

Multivariate analyses also control for age, sex, region, race/ethnicity, and immigration history.

P < 0.05.

^**

P < 0.01.

^***

P < 0.001.