Table 4

Logistic regression analysis between compassion and career choice motivations (N=843)

VariableCompassion, OR (95% CI)
Model 1†Model 2‡Model 3§
Interest in the health sciences1.50 (1.14 to 1.99)*1.44 (1.08 to 1.92)*1.43 (1.07 to 1.92)*
Income and social status0.93 (0.71 to 1.23)0.86 (0.64 to 1.14)0.87 (0.65 to 1.16)
Advocating altruism1.35 (1.02 to 1.79)*1.33 (1.00 to 1.78)*1.32 (0.98 to 1.78)
Family member in healthcare0.89 (0.66 to 1.2)0.89 (0.65 to 1.22)0.86 (0.63 to 1.19)
Parents’ expectations or illness in the family0.80 (0.57 to 1.12)0.83 (0.59 to 1.17)0.85 (0.60 to 1.21)
Gender
 Male11
 Female1.16 (0.87 to 1.56)1.15 (0.86 to 1.55)
Duration of the medical programme (years)
 511
 83.27 (2.27 to 4.70)*2.96 (1.95 to 4.51)*
Household registration area
 Rural11
 Urban1.08 (0.79 to 1.47)1.25 (0.84 to 1.84)
Annual household income (¥)
 ≤20 0001
 20 000–50 0001.69 (1.10 to 2.60)*
 50 000–100 0001.54 (1.02 to 2.32)*
 ≥100 0002.07 (0.94 to 4.55)
Fathers’ educational level
 Junior high school and below1
 High school1.08 (0.72 to 1.63)
 University degree1.33 (0.82 to 2.14)
Fathers’ occupation
 Legislators, senior officials and managers1
 Professionals, technicians and associate professionals1.61 (0.97 to 2.66)
 Clerical support workers1.83 (0.92 to 3.65)
 Service and sales workers1.28 (0.75 to 2.19)
 Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers1.44 (0.75 to 2.78)
 Craft and related trades workers, plant and machine operators and assemblers1.34 (0.72 to 2.49)
 Other1.81 (1.09 to 3.01)*

  • *p<0.05.

  • †Only career choice motivation was included.

  • ‡Career choice motivation and individual characteristics were included.

  • §Career choice motivation, individual characteristics and family characteristics were included.