The impact of gender on the choice of surgery as a career.
BACKGROUND
The objective of the survey was to examine factors affecting career choice by medical students.


METHODS
A questionnaire was distributed to the 245 fourth-year students at the University of Toronto, sampling qualities of importance in specialties, the importance of role models, attitudes toward surgery, and specialty match results.


RESULTS
There was a 69% return rate. Males were more likely to choose a surgical career than were females (27% versus 10%, respectively; P = 0.01). Males were more likely to identify technical challenge, earning potential, and prestige (P < 0.01) whereas females were more likely to identify residency conditions, part-time work, and parental leave availability as important qualities in a specialty (P < 0.01). Females were less likely to take surgical electives (P < 0.001) and more likely to identify a lack of role models (P < 0.003). Students agreed that surgeons have rewarding careers (79%) and earn more (64%); however, they do not agree that surgeons enjoy spending time with patients (10%) or have rewarding family lives (5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Fewer females than males were found to consider or choose a surgical career, possibly due to differences in qualities of importance in specialties, availability of role models, and exposure through electives.
Baxter
N
N
Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Cohen
R
R
McLeod
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D013502:General Surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D008611:Mentors; D009042:Motivation; D009864:Ontario; D010822:Physicians, Women; D013038:Specialization; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires