[Important differences between faculties of medicine. Implications for family and community medicine]

[Choice of Family and Community Medicine in the MIR 2002-2023: An objective approach shows that it is as highly valued as hospital specialties]

INTRODUCTION

Currently there is a shortage of general practitioners (GP), and this is expected to increase in the coming years. Despite this need, it is a specialty that is supposedly little demanded, leaving specialized training places unfilled in recent years. The purpose of this study is to present new parameters to more objectively measure the demand and the relationship between supply and demand.

METHODS

A database was used with the results of the places assigned in the MIR calls from 2002 to 2023. The calculated parameters were quoting index (CI), quote order, the order of top demand and the order of total demand of the GP specialty. The software R version 4.3.02 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The specialty quotation and top demand have remained constant during the study period, while there has been a slight and progressive worsening of the total demand. Nevertheless, the total demand for Family Medicine in the last call for MIR exam was higher than that for specialties such as urology, neurology, ENT, endocrinology, oncology, intensive care medicine or neurosurgery, among others.

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to the subjective perception of the worsening attractiveness Family Medicine in the last MIR calls, using objective parameters, we found that the attractiveness of the specialty, measured as quotation (supply/demand ratio) and demand, has remained stable (with a slight worsening of total demand).

[Elements influencing the election of Family and Community Medicine]

AIM

To analyze the perceptions, motives and reasons that influence the election of Family and Community Medicine (FCM) speciality, thus exploring possible proposals for change in the health system model and university training.

DESIGN

Descriptive-interpretative qualitative research from a socio-constructivist perspective.

EMPLACEMENT

Medical speciality training departments in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona.

PARTICIPANTS AND CONTEXT

55 first year junior doctors belonging to the FCM Barcelona Ciutat ICS training department were contacted; 25 agreed to participate. They were segmented into two groups depending on if the choice of FCM had been their first option or not. Through snowball sampling 11 more junior doctors from other specialities were recruited.

METHOD

Three focus groups were formed: (a) first choice FCM, (b) not first choice FCM and (c) other specialities. Semi-structured 2-h long interviews took place with each of the groups. Literal transcription and inductive codification with a first triangulation within each group and a second one between the three of them and thematic content analyses.

RESULTS

The choice of speciality is lived as an academic milestone and is thought determining professional and personally. It is a complex weave of influencing elements but some of main factors were university training, health system model, professional prospects and the social appreciation of the speciality. Analyzing the relation between these elements puts light on a phenomena we have called "the discredit of Primary Care (PC)".

CONCLUSION

The FCM specialty will not be attractive in a hospital-centric health and training system that does not bet on PC organizationally or economically.