Only about 47 percent of physicians are "very satisfied" with their current medical specialty, according to a Medscape poll of 949 practitioners.
An additional 34 percent are somewhat satisfied, while 13 percent are not satisfied at all. About 73 percent of physicians believe that being a physician is everything they thought it would be either always or sometimes. Twenty-two percent believe being a physician is not all they thought it would be.
About 59 percent of physicians polled are practicing their first choice specialty, while 27 percent are practicing their second choice and 9 percent are practicing their third choice.
Around 41 percent of physicians would choose the same specialty again, 10 percent would choose the same practice setting, 18 percent would choose the same specialty and practice setting and 23 percent would not study medicine again.