A comparison of personality types among female student health professionals

The purpose of the study reported here was to focus on the personality traits of six groups of women students in medicine, pharmacy, medical technology, physical therapy, dietetics, and occupational therapy. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator was administered to all groups to measure Extroversion-Introversion, Sensing-Intuition, Thinking-Feeling, and Judging-Perception. Results show that (a) medical students in contrast to the other five groups are guided more by thinking than feelings in their approach to work and people and (b) pharmacy students prefer well-planned, routine work in contrast to occupational therapy students who like changing situations and flexibility. Some implications of these findings for the health team are mentioned.