Opiniões de estudantes de medicina sobre as perspectivas de especialização e prática profissional no programa de saúde da família

Abstract

The creation and expansion of the Family Health Program (FHP) in Brazil bring to Family Practice (FP), as medical specialty, highlight because it’s the more adequate one for that kind of work. Recent partnerships between Health and Education State Departments try to regulate the graduation and post graduation of health workers, attending the demands of consolidation of the National Health System of Brazil (NHS). Investments ware taken to increase FP residency position number, but maybe there is an incongruity between career intentions of future doctors and the needs of the Brazilian NHS, what is shown by the low number of positions filled in those programs. The initial objective of this research was to determine predisposing factors to choice of FP as career. However, upon recognizing the disinterest by that specialty, we try to list explanatory hypotheses for such reality. It was, then, carried out a study involving 170 medical students of Federal University of Ceará at Sobral, which answered a questionnaire containing 32 questions about demographic and social characteristics, choice of the specialty, FHP and FP and factors that, in the opinion of the students, influence the choice of career. It was found that only one student made a choice of FP as specialty. However, the great majority doesn’t reject the possibility of work provisionally in the FHP. The probable justifications for this disinterest are the precarious conditions of work, depreciation of the activity, low income, better salaries in remote cities and few perspectives of professional growth. The hidden curriculum, cited by international articles, also play a role, but it was not evaluated accurately in this research. Clinical specialties are the most preferred by those students. The most influencing factors for career choice, according to students, are personal interests, ethical and social commitment and possibility of make diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. In conclusion, career choice has many influencing factors. The interest by FP is modest. Despite many proposals to increase interest, these did not bring repercussion in some settings and are not scientifically confirmed. Even so, such influencing factors it must be identified and strategies for revert that picture must be tried.