What influences career choices among graduates of a primary care training program?
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors that influence primary care residents to become generalists or specialists.


METHODS
Structured survey and interview.


METHODS
A large university-based, internal medicine residency program in primary care.


METHODS
Of 92 residency graduates who completed training between 1979 and 1993, 88 (96%) participated.


RESULTS
Although 82% of the participating graduates reported themselves very committed to primary care at the beginning of residency, only 68% pursued generalist careers. Factors influencing career choice that were more important to generalists than specialists included breadth of knowledge used in primary care practice (p = .04), breadth of clinical problems in practice (p = .001), and opportunity for continuity of care (p = .01). Although salary was rated "not important," 50% of generalists and specialists advocated increased salaries for generalists as a way to increase interest in primary care. Other promoting factors included mentors, increased prestige for generalists, community-based training, lifestyle changes, and decreased paperwork. Seventy-three percent of participants felt it was easier to be a specialist than a generalist.


CONCLUSIONS
A substantial minority of primary care residents pursue specialty careers. To produce more generalists, graduates recommend addressing income inequities, providing generalist role models, increasing community-based teaching, and increasing prestige for generalists.
DeWitt
D E
DE
Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98105, USA.
Curtis
J R
JR
Burke
W
W
D002321:Career Choice; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D013038:Specialization