Gender-Related Values and Medical Specialty Choice

During orientation, all 74 first-year medical students at the University of South Carolina responded to a survey about their preferences regarding specialty, work hours, leisure-time activities, and the quality they most valued in their own physician. More women than men listed a primary care specialty as their specialty choice. The men indicated a desire to work longer hours than the women, whereas a greater proportion of the women than men chose to spend their leisure time with family and friends. This study suggests that these gender-related values may influence practice choices.