Variation in predictors of primary care career choice by year and stage of training.

Context: It is not known whether factors associated with primary care career choice affect trainees differently at different times or stages of medical education.

Objective: To examine how role models, encouragement, and personal characteristics affect career choice at different stages (medical school vs residency) and periods (1994 vs 1997) of training.

Design: A split-panel design with 2 cross-sectional telephone surveys and a panel survey in 1994 and 1997.