[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.