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Israeli Female Physicians' Motives for Choosing Orthopedics as Their Specialty Choice

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Abstract

Background

Orthopedics is not a popular field of specialization among female medical students. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to examine factors related to women’s choice of orthopedics as their field of specialty, compared to those who chose other fields.

Methods

In this cross-sectional survey, 149 female medical residents from Israel—33 specializing in orthopedics and 116 in other fields—completed a questionnaire. A comparison was held between the two groups.

Results

Orthopedic residents were more likely to have received clinical training in this field during their medical studies and were more likely to have expressed a desire to specialize in orthopedics before and at the completion of their studies. In addition, orthopedic residents ascribed greater importance to job security when choosing a field of specialty and, in contrast, ascribed no importance at all to lifestyle. No difference was found between the two groups in their level of dissatisfaction as a result of their residency. However, orthopedic residents were more inclined to perceive gender discrimination in the field of orthopedics but, despite this, had a greater intention to recommend a residency in orthopedics. A negative association was found between the level of dissatisfaction as a result of the residency and intention to recommend a residency in orthopedics.

Conclusions

Differences between the two groups point to potential factors that might have been related to women’s choice of orthopedics as their field of specialty. The findings may help form strategies for attracting women to specialize in orthopedics.

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Acknowledgements

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Orthopedics B Department, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel

    Yaniv Yonai, Rawan Masarwa, Yaniv Steinfeld & Yaron Berkovich

  2. Pat Matthews Academic School of Nursing, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, P.O.B. 169, 38100, Hadera, Israel

    Merav Ben Natan

Authors
  1. Yaniv Yonai
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  2. Rawan Masarwa
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  3. Yaniv Steinfeld
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  4. Merav Ben Natan
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  5. Yaron Berkovich
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Correspondence to Merav Ben Natan.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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The study was approved by the appropriate institution and/or national research ethics committee and complied with ethical requirements.

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Yonai, Y., Masarwa, R., Steinfeld, Y. et al. Israeli Female Physicians' Motives for Choosing Orthopedics as Their Specialty Choice. World J Surg 47, 1364–1370 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-023-06953-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-023-06953-2

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