The authors studied the choice of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob-Gyn) by medical graduates, in relation to personal features, program-related features and historical context. The study involved 792 students who graduated from the University of Brasilia in the period from 1994 to 2006. Data included demographics, learning attributes, early career preference, peer-tutoring experience, academic achievement, selective training in the final semester, and choice of residency training. Contingency and logistic regression analyses were performed with the graduates grouped according to choice of Ob-Gyn or any other option. Overall, 8% graduates selected GO of whom 33% had indicated early attraction to the specialty. No significant temporal trend was observed for either choice or early attraction. However, during a 5-years period, fewer graduates than the initially attracted by the specialty chose Ob-Gyn, a fact associated with program-environment changes. The logistic regression analysis identified six independent predictive factors: selective training, peer-tutoring and incremental achievement in Ob-Gyn, early preference for the specialty, (female) gender and date of graduation. In conclusion, the study revealed that the predictors of Ob-Gyn choice in a 13-years timeframe involved personal features, curricular events and the phase of the institutional conjuncture.
Education, medical; Undergraduate; Career choice, residency; Medical students
