Medical student attitudes towards family medicine in Spain: a statewide analysis
Por:
Zurro, AM, Villa, JJ, Hijar, AM, Tuduri, XM, Puime, AO, Alonso-Coello, P
Publicada:
29 may 2012
Resumen:
Background: Family and community medicine (FM) became a recognized specialty in Spain in 1978; however, most medical schools in Spain still lack mandatory core courses in FM. In order to explore the perceptions, expectations and level of information amongst medical students in Spain in relation to FM and PC, and the training in these areas in the curriculum of the Medical Schools, a survey was developed to be administered in medical schools every two years. This article presents data from the first questionnaire administration.
Methods: The study population was all first-, third-, and fifth-year students (2009-2010) in 22 participating medical schools in Spain (of 27 total). The 83-item survey had three sections: personal data, FM training, professional practice expectations, and preferences). Chi-squared test or analyses of variance were used, as appropriate.
Results: We had a 41.8% response rate (n = 5299/12924); 89.8% considered the social role of FM to be essential, while only 20% believed the specialty was well respected within the medical profession. The appeal of FM increased with years of study, independent of student characteristics or medical school attended. Among third and fifth-year students, 54.6% said their specialty preferences had changed during medical school; 73.6% felt that FM specialists should teach FM courses, and 83.3% thought that FM rotations in primary care centres were useful.
Conclusions: Students valued the social role of FM more highly than its scientific standing. The vast majority believe that FM training should be mandatory. Only 25% of first-year students have clear preferences for a specialization. Interest in FM increases moderately over their years of study. Working conditions in FM have decisive influence in choosing a specialty.
Filiaciones:
Zurro, AM:
Div Planificac & Evaluac Operat, Serv Catalan Salud, Barcelona, Spain
Inst Univ Invest Atencio Primaria Jordi Gol IDIAP, Barcelona, Spain
Villa, JJ:
Div Planificac & Evaluac Operat, Serv Catalan Salud, Barcelona, Spain
Inst Univ Invest Atencio Primaria Jordi Gol IDIAP, Barcelona, Spain
Univ Autonoma Barcelona, Catedra UAB Novartis Docencia & Invest Med Famili, E-08193 Barcelona, Spain
Hijar, AM:
Univ Zaragoza, Catedra UNIZAR Novartis Docencia & Invest Med Fam, Zaragoza, Spain
Tuduri, XM:
Univ Autonoma Barcelona, Catedra UAB Novartis Docencia & Invest Med Famili, E-08193 Barcelona, Spain
Puime, AO:
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Catedra UAM Novartis Docencia & Invest Med Famili, Madrid, Spain
Alonso-Coello, P:
CIBERESP IIB St Pau, Iberoamer Cochrane Ctr, Barcelona, Spain
Gold, Green Published
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