Os fatores decisivos na escolha dentre as carreiras médicas: qual é o papel da Universidade?

Abstract

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.