Gender differences in speciality choice can partly be explained as a function of socialisation [ 14- 16], but also by structural operating barriers or closure mechanisms within specific fields [ 17- 19].
However, stratification of attitude by speciality showed that significant difference was only found among GPs (GP, chi-square = 11.7983, p = 0.003; O&G, chi-square = 0.8995, p = 0.638).
Differences between specialities pertain most to the type of practice residents will ultimately end up in (ie: office based specialties particularly valuing instruction in office management and health care system interaction).
There was satisfactory agreement about the causes between doctors with different specialities, but significant inter-individual differences between the doctors.
Frequency distributions were given for categories and tested with Chi-tests for differences in gender, speciality fields, and whether or not the respondent would again choose a career in medicine.
Frequency distributions were given for categories and tested with Chitests for differences in gender, speciality fields, and whether or not the respondent would again choose a career in medicine.
The second article [ 2], also employing a postal questionnaire (95% response), looked at the major differences between clinicians of differing specialities in the management of potential C-spine injuries in unconscious adult patients.
Female residents tended to choose G&O, paediatrics, and anaesthesiology, males more often surgical specialities; the other specialities did not show gender-relevant differences of frequency distribution.
Further research is needed to explore differences in individualisation between different clinical specialities, as this may highlight situations in clinical areas in which individualisation is commonly achieved, and situations in which individualisation is not so appropriate.
Differences in programme implementation may also reflect differences between surgical specialities.
