Impact of family and gender on career goals: results of a national survey of 4586 surgery residents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine how marriage, children, and gender influence US categorical general surgery residents' perceptions of their profession and motivations for specialty training.


METHODS
Cross-sectional national survey administered after the January 2008 American Board of Surgery In-service Training Examination.


METHODS
Two hundred forty-eight US general surgery residency programs.


METHODS
All US categorical general surgery residents.


METHODS
We evaluated demographic characteristics with respect to survey responses using the chi(2) test, analysis of variance, and multivariate logistic regression. Interaction terms between variables were assessed.


METHODS
Perceptions of respondents regarding the future of general surgery and the role of specialty training in relation to anticipated income and lifestyle.


RESULTS
The survey response rate was 75.0% (4586 respondents). Mean age was 30.6 years; 31.7% were women, 51.3% were married, and 25.4% had children. Of the respondents, 28.7% believed general surgery is becoming obsolete (30.1% of men and 25.9% of women; P = .004), and 55.1% believed specialty training is necessary for success (56.4% of men and 52.7% of women; P = .02). Single residents and residents without children were more likely to plan for fellowship (59.1% single vs 51.9% married, P < .001; 57.0% with no children vs 50.1% with children, P < .001). In our multivariate analyses, male gender was an independent predictor of worry that general surgery is becoming obsolete (P = .003). Female residents who were single or had no children tended to identify lifestyle rather than income as a motivator for specialty training.


CONCLUSIONS
Marital status, children, and gender appear to have a powerful effect on general surgery residents' career planning.
Viola
Kate V
KV
Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Bucholz
Emily
E
Yeo
Heather
H
Piper
Crystal L
CL
Piper
Crystal
C
Bell
Richard H
RH
Sosa
Julie Ann
JA
D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D012737:Sex Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States