Outline of Significant Differences

Gender

Men are more likely than women to:

• Be in Ophthalmology, Orthopedic Surgery and General Surgery
• Be members of single or multi-specialty groups
• Strongly agree with the following statements:
• I bring the right blend of knowledge and “know-how” to my job
• I bring the right blend of skills to my job
• I am confident when performing my job
• In the short term, my job stimulates me and makes me happy
• I have the materials, resources and equipment I need to do my job right
• I chose the right specialty for me
• I am able to treat patients as I see fit, without colleagues' interference
• I am able to treat patients as I see fit, without outside interference
• At work, my opinions seem to count
• I am a respected member of the community in which I practice
• I have made a difference in the community in which I practice
• I am compensated fairly for what I do
• The practice of medicine is a financially lucrative occupation
• My benefits package meets my needs
• Describe themselves as happy and fulfilled their work
• Say they have a good balance between professional and personal lives
• Participate in team sports, outdoor sports and golf
• List movies / cinemas and surfing the web / chat rooms as hobbies
• Be married or have a significant other

Women physicians are more likely than men physicians to:

• Be in Family Practice, OB/Gyn
• More likely to be LTs or independent practitioners
• Strongly agree with the following statements:
• My patients need more than I can give; it’s somewhat overwhelming
• Participate in personal fitness, artistic hobbies, and reading
• Be single or divorced/separated
  

In the above graphics, the distribution of the male physician respondents and the female physician respondents are plotted on the DISC profile.  The reference DISC graph is below and designates the general areas for the particular personality styles.

Relationship Role Descriptions

© Copyright 1995-2003 – Extended DISC International

Generational
Older Baby Boomer physicians (born between 1946-1954) are more likely than:Gen X physicians (born between 1965-1979) to be in private solo practices

Silent Generation physicians (born between 1925-1945) are more likely than:

• Baby Boomer physicians (born between 1946-1964) to be retired (7%)
• Younger Boomer and Gen X physicians (born between 1955-1979) to be LTs / independent practitioners
• Baby Boomer physicians (born between 1946-1964) to strongly agree with the statements:
• I enjoy the practice of medicine
• I am able to treat patients as I see fit, without colleague interference
• Gen X physicians (born between 1965-1979) strongly agree with the following statements:
• I bring the right blend of knowledge and “know-how” to my job
• Non-physician colleagues provide an adequate level of support
• I have made a difference in the community in which I practice
• I am compensated fairly for what I do
• The practice of medicine is a financially lucrative occupation

Silent Generation physicians (born between 1925-1945) are more likely than:

• Younger Boomer and Gen X physicians (born between 1955-1979) to strongly agree with the following statements:
• In the short-term, my job is rewarding to me
• In the long-term, my job provides meaning to me
• I have the materials, resources and equipment I need to do my job right
• The investment I have made in education and hours has been worthwhile
• At work, my opinions seem to count
• I feel a personal connection with patients; I make a difference in their lives

Silent Generation physicians (born between 1925-1945) are more likely than:

• Boomer and Gen X physicians (born between 1946-1979) to strongly agree with the following statements:
• Overall, I feel grateful for my job and it is a great use of my time
• At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day
• I chose the right specialty for me
• I am a respected member of the community in which I practice
• Boomer and Gen X physicians (born between 1946-1979) to report a balance between their personal and professional lives

Silent Generation physicians (born between 1925-1945) are more likely than:

• Younger Boomer physicians born between 1955-1964 to:
• Strongly agree with the statement:
• My job is a source of stimulation and happiness
• I am able to treat patients as I see fit, without outside interference

Younger physicians – Generation X (born between 1965-1979) are more likely than:

• Silent Generation and older Baby Boomer physicians born between 1925-1954) to be hospital based/hospital employed
• Younger Baby Boomer physicians (born between 1955-1964) to strongly agree with the statement: I consider my colleagues friends and socialize with them outside of work

Younger physicians – Younger Boomers and Gen Xers(born between 1955-1979) are more likely than:

• Silent Generation physicians (born between 1925-1945) to strongly agree with the statement: My patients need more than I can give; it’s somewhat overwhelming

Boomer and Gen X physicians (born between 1945-1979) are more likely than:

• Silent Generation physicians (born between 1925-1945) to say that work consumes them and interferes with their personal lives
  

Attitude Towards Work / Satisfaction

Those physicians who are happy and fulfilled in their work are more likely than:

• Those who are disillusioned and did not get into medicine to do what they are doing now to be born between 1925-1945
• Than those who say some aspects of their work are frustrating, but are happy for the most part to make $500K+ per year
• Than those who are happy for the most part, those who are disillusioned and those who are burned out to say they have a balance between their personal and professional lives

Those physicians who are burned out but must continue in medical practice due to financial considerations are more likely than:

• Those who say some aspects of the practice of medicine are frustrating, but for the most part are happy to be in private/solo practice

Those physicians who are disillusioned and burned out are more likely than those who are happy and fulfilled and those who are happy for the most part to say work consumes me and interferes with my personal life.

Those physicians who report that work consumes them and interferes with their personal lives are more likely than those who are happy and fulfilled:

• To be single
• To be divorced/separated
• To not have children
• To specialize in general surgery
• To be in private/solo practice

Those physicians who report a balance between personal and professional lives are more likely than those who report that work consumes them and interferes with personal life:

• To be born between 1925-1945
• To strongly agree with the statement: I chose the right specialty for me
• To strongly agree that they consider their colleagues to be friends and a source of professional stimulation

Sheri Sorrell has over 17 years' experience in branding and marketing. She has done extensive work in qualitative and quantitative market research including target audience / market segmentation and statistical data analysis. Sheri serves as the Market Research Director for Jackson Healthcare.