Factors Associated with the Choice of Specializing in Family Medicine

Abstract:

Introduction:

Family Medicine (FM) is considered the specialty which is most closely related to the primary health care (PHC) principles of longitudinality, comprehensiveness and coordination. The choice to specialize in FM can be related to personal, professional and curricular aspects. Objective: To analyze the profile of family medicine residents in Pernambuco and the factors associated with the choice of this specialty.

Method:

Cross-sectional study, involving 129 physicians entering FM residency in Pernambuco from 2012 to 2017. Data collection was performed by applying an electronic LimeSurvey questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale with questions about factors that may have contributed to their choice of the specialty. Descriptive analyses of the study variables were performed in EpiInfo® 7.0, presented in frequency distribution and measures of central tendency and dispersion. The internal consistency of the data was assessed using Alpha Cronbach. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde.

Results:

104 physicians answered the questionnaire, with a mean age of 31 + 6.1 years, 58.6% women, 70% were graduates from public universities and 66.3% of the medics decided to specialize in FM after graduating. Personal aspects analysed in relation to influence on the physician’s choice to specialize in FM are social commitment, aptitude, affinity with the specialty and personal life circumstances. In terms of the characteristics of medical residency, both the duration and the availability of places in the state’s FM programs played a part in the choice. Most aspects related to the choice of following a career in FM were classed as a positive influence on that choice. Factors related to the undergraduate curriculum included model preceptors and practical activities in the family medicine setting. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.847.

Conclusion:

The factors cited by residents as influencing their choice to specialize in FM include personal aspects, characteristics of the residency program as well as characteristics of the specialty itself. On the other hand, aspects related to the undergraduate curriculum in general did not contribute to this choice. There was, however, agreement that practical experience in a FM setting and the example of model tutors influenced the decision.

Keywords:
Family Medicine; Medical Specialty; Medical Education