Table 4.
The odds ratios for not starting studying medicine if making the decision now
| 1998 | 2008 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | OR (95 % C.I.) | n | OR (95 % C.I.) | |||
| Gender | Males | 560 | 1 | 318 | 1 | |
| Females | 1,156 | 1.16 (0.90 to 1.49) | 857 | 1.92 (1.33 to 2.77) | ||
| Age | Under 30 | 260 | 1 | 167 | 1 | |
| 30-34 | 776 | 1.62 (1.13 to 2.32) | 490 | 1.25 (0.71 to 2.20) | ||
| 35-39 | 573 | 1.14 (0.74 to 1.78) | 406 | 1.25 (0.64 to 2.44) | ||
| 40 or older | 107 | 1.28 (0.69 to 1.22) | 112 | 1.18 (0.76 to 1.81) | ||
| Time elapsed from the qualification as a physician | 2-6 years | 908 | 1 | 589 | 1 | |
| 7-11 years | 808 | 0.92 (0.69 to 1.22) | 586 | 1.17 (0.76 to 1.81) | ||
| The most frequent motives for applying for medical school: | ||||||
| Interest in people | A lot | 1,386 | 1 | 955 | 1 | |
| To some extent | 209 | 1.22 (0.88 to 1.71) | 154 | 1.57 (1.03 to 2.40) | ||
| Hardly at all | 121 | 1.91 (1.27 to 2.88) | 66 | 1.53 (0.85 to 2.78) | ||
| Prestigious profession | A lot | 1,079 | 1 | 693 | 1 | |
| To some extent | 424 | 1.21 (0.88 to 1.67) | 339 | 1.00 (0.66 to 1.52) | ||
| Hardly at all | 213 | 1.76 (1.13 to 2.75) | 143 | 1.29 (0.71 to 2.32) | ||
| Wide range of professional opportunities | A lot | 1,049 | 1 | 524 | 1 | |
| To some extent | 310 | 1.51 (1.12 to 2.02) | 309 | 1.70 (1.13 to 2.55) | ||
| Hardly at all | 357 | 1.46 (1.10 to 1.95) | 342 | 2.44 (1.67 to 3.57) | ||
| Vocation | A lot | 708 | 1 | 495 | 1 | |
| To some extent | 369 | 1.45 (1.05 to 2.00) | 275 | 1.84 (1.19 to 2.84) | ||
| Hardly at all | 639 | 2.57 (1.95 to 3.38) | 405 | 2.64 (1.77 to 3.93) | ||
| Good salary | A lot | 764 | 1 | 464 | 1 | |
| To some extent | 552 | 0.75 (0.56 to 1.02) | 451 | 0.88 (0.59 to 1.32) | ||
| Hardly at all | 400 | 0.59 (0.40 to 0.86) | 260 | 0.76 (0.45 to 1.28) | ||
| Achievements at school | A lot | 952 | 1 | 475 | 1 | |
| To some extent | 357 | 0.79 (0.58 to 1.08) | 326 | 1.00 (0.66 to 1.50) | ||
| Hardly at all | 407 | 1.00 (0.74 to 1.35) | 374 | 0.99 (0.66 to 1.49) | ||
| Nagelkerke’s R-squared | 0.103 | 0.098 | ||||
| Hosmer-Lemeshow | 0.138 | 0.923 | ||||
The odds ratios with 95 % confidence intervals in binary logistic regression model for answering “No” to the question: “If you were starting your studies now, would you choose to be a physician?” in Physician 1998 and Physician 2008 studies. Note “statistically” significant (p < 0.05) values are in BOLD. The question was not asked in Junior Physician 88 study