Table 3

Career opportunities, prospects and commitment to the NHS: percentages according to timing of decision to become a GP

All respondersTiming of decision to choose GPComparing 4 groupsComparing earliest choosers (<Y1) vs latest (≥Y5)All
<Y1Y1 to 3Y3 to 5≥Y5P-value (χ2 testa3)P-value (χ2 testa1)
I have had good career opportunities in my career to date (% agreement)80.275.480.170.90.002<0.00177.4
I am satisfied with my future career prospects (% agreement)69.970.169.966.90.730.17069.3
Do you feel committed to a long-term career in the NHS?
  % Yes85.781.379.973.1<0.001<0.00181.2
  % Undecided8.510.713.116.2
  % No5.88.17.010.7
Males
I have had good career opportunities in my career to date (% agreement)82.880.580.671.70.060.00779.4
I am satisfied with my future career prospects (% agreement)70.375.668.163.80.200.11069.3
Do you feel committed to a long-term career in the NHS?
  % Yes80.675.978.474.80.670.16078.0
  % Undecided10.913.914.714.0
  % No8.610.16.911.2
Females
I have had good career opportunities in my career to date (% agreement)79.072.879.870.30.020.00776.4
I am satisfied with my future career prospects (% agreement)69.767.471.069.00.850.46069.4
Do you feel committed to a long-term career in the NHS?
  % Yes87.683.480.772.3<0.001<0.00182.6
  % Undecided7.69.312.317.3
  % No4.87.37.110.4
  • a Degrees of freedom for the test (4 groups = 3 df, 2 groups = 1 df).