Abstract

ESCOBAR RABADAN, Francisco  and  LOPEZ-TORRES HIDALGO, Jesús. What determines the choice for a specific speciality in Medicine?. Rev Clin Med Fam [online]. 2008, vol.2, n.5, pp.216-225. ISSN 2386-8201.

There is a wide variability in the proportion of graduates from the different medical faculties that opt to work in Primary Care. Many articles have been published about the selection of primary care specialities by graduates of medicine. The interest in this mainly arises from the conviction that there are an insufficient number of doctors in primary care to meet the health demands (the aim being that at least 50% of doctors should work in this area). Different theories have been formulated to explain the decisions taken when choosing a career in medicine and student's background, skills, personality and experience have all been proposed as factors that influence this career choice. Graduates choose a career that satisfies their preferences and priorities and is compatible with the restrictions posed by their abilities and lifestyle. Demographic characteristics, their personality and previous experiences all affect how they process the information they receive in the Faculty, which finally determines the career they choose. A preference for primary care has been related to a biosocial orientation, compared to a bioscientific one, and it has also been shown that attitudes towards general medicine and the influence of other people are the factors with the most impact on the students' preference for this healthcare area.

Keywords : Specialties.

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