A multiple discriminant analysis of physician specialty choice

✍ Scribed by Collin J. Watson; D.James Croft

• Book ID: 103051816
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1978
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 783 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0010-4809
• DOI: 10.1016/0010-4809(78)90021-6

✦ Synopsis

Multiple discriminant analysis (MDA) is applied in this study to the problem of the maldistribution of physicians among specialities in the health care field. The criterion variable of specialty choice of physicians is analyzed using admissions, medical training, and practice data as predictor variables. The conceptual notion and functional relationships expected can be represented as: Specialty Choice = f,(admissions variables), Specialty Choice = f&admissions, training, practice variables).

The results imply that the correct classification rate for the general practice-family practice group may be high enough to warrant the use of MDA as an aid to predicting the specialty choice of the medical school applicant. The prediction may be useful as a criterion for acceptance to medical school or as a measure for counseling medical students in the specialty selection process.