VASCONCELOS, R. R. A.; ARAÚJO, R. M.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4162819352525478; http://lattes.cnpq.br/5346505128565836; VASCONCELOS, Rebeca Raissa Afonso.; ARAÚJO, Rossiniê de Miranda.
Resumen:
The choice for a career path in Medicine has important consequences to the
practitioner’s private life as well as to the country’s Health status; however, studies
investigating the variables involved in this process are scarce in Brazil. For this
reason, the research aimed at the study of the main decisive factors involved in the
choice for a medical career among interns at the Federal University of Campina
Grande, and of the role that is carried out by the Institution. Fifteen semi-structured
interviews were conducted for this exploratory, transversal, qualitative study. The
transcripts were analysed according to Laurence Bardin’s Content Analysis
Technique after the definition of categories based on interns’ perception on the
influence of factors related to themselves, the University and the aimed career when
considering an area of professional interest, as well as on the election of their main
influencers, desired and rejected careers, decision-making moments, feelings of
assuredness and anxiety related to residency programs’ selection processes and
the University’s role on enabling the development of a preference. As a result, we
found that perceived quality of life and affinity are perceived as the main motivators
for the selection of a medical specialty, with substantial influence of the place of
birth, gender, individual or familial experiences with sickness, salary and prestige,
contact with professors and tutors, academic curriculum and extracurricular
activities. Social engagement, duration of residency programs, difficulties found on
selective processes and contact with professionals other than physicians appear not
to exert significant influence. Internships are the period when most decisions are
made, and the rejection of certain areas usually precede the choice for one. There
is notable insecurity regarding the future professional performance and the
acceptance into residency programs, especially amongst first year interns. Events
providing spaces for discussion with specialists on the many medical fields are the
most sough-out strategy by the interns in order to optimise the University’s impact
on facilitating the choice for a career path in Medicine.