Factors Conditioning the Choice and Permanence in the Practice of General and Family Medicine as a Medical Specialty

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Argentina has a lack of physicians who choose to be trained in General or Family Medicine residencies. In addition, a significant proportion tends to leave the practice after training. OBJECTIVES: To identify the reasons that lead physicians to choose General Medicine instead of other training possibilities in national residencies. To explore the factors that lead trained professionals to quit practicing General Medicine. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed. It used a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques implemented on two populations: (a) the population that had pre-registered for residencies in 2012, and (b) physicians who had started their residencies in General or Family Medicine from 2001 to 2004, considering the provinces of Jujuy, Tucumán, Santa Fe and Neuquén. RESULTS: The professionals who had chosen General Medicine mainly based their decisions on issues related to community and social commitment, while social prestige and economic welfare were not as important. However, after a few years of practice, the low economic and symbolic value of the specialty, the poor working conditions and the limited professional development opportunities led them to migrate to another activity. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides recommendations for the design and monitoring of policies, which are useful to strengthen the choice and permanence of general practitioners in their activity. This involves undergraduate university programs and labor market in the respective jurisdictions.