Attitudes and perceptions of medical students about family medicine in Spain: protocol for a cross-sectional survey

Background: Despite the fact that family medicine (FM) has become established as a specialty in the past 25 years, this has not been reflected in the inclusion of the specialty in the majority of medical schools in Spain. Almost 40% of the students will work in primary care but, in spite of this, most universities do not have an assessed placement as such. There are only specific practice periods in health centres or some student-selected components with little weight in the overall curricula. Objectives: To evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of medical students about FM in the health system and their perception about the need for specific training in FM at the undergraduate level. To explore change over time of these attitudes and perceptions and to examine potential predictive factors for change. Finally, we will review what teaching activity in FM is offered across the Spanish schools of medicine. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional survey. Each one of the different analyses will consist of two surveys: one for all the students in the first, third and fifth year of medical school in all the Spanish schools of medicine asking about their knowledge, perceptions and attitudes in relation to primary care and FM. There will be an additional survey for the coordinating faculty of the study in each university about the educational activities related to FM that are carried out in their centres. The repetition of the study every 2 years will allow for an analysis of the evolution of the cohort of students until they receive their degree and the potential predictive factors. Discussion: This study will provide useful information for strategic planning decisions, content and educational methodology in medical schools in Spain and elsewhere. It will also help to evaluate the influence of the ongoing changes in FM, locally and at the European level, on the attitudes and perceptions of the students towards FM in SpainThis project is funded with a grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Sanidad, Spain (PI070975). PA-C is funded by a Miguel Servet contract by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CP09/00137)

Fiabilidad de un cuestionario empleado para la aplicación en el seguimiento longitudinal de la opinión y percepciones de la medicina de familia de los estudiantes de medicina de la Universidad de Zaragoza

Objetivo La medicina de familia aborda determinados aspectos y perspectivas que suelen quedar relegados en la formación de otros niveles de atención por lo que cada vez cobra mayor importancia la necesidad de que los estudiantes tomen contacto con la atención primaria. El objetivo de este estudio es el de evaluar la fiabilidad del cuestionario del grupo Unimedifam (FIS PI070975) para conocer la evolución longitudinal de las expectativas y conocimientos sobre medicina de familia de los estudiantes de medicina. Diseño Estudio de fiabilidad de un cuestionario. Emplazamiento Alumnos de medicina de la Universidad de Zaragoza. Participantes Contamos con un total de 371 alumnos de los cursos 1.°, 3.°, 5.° y 6.°. Método La consistencia interna del cuestionario se determinó con el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach y su estabilidad en una prueba test-retest. Resultados En la escala A del cuestionario encontramos que 3 ítems de 19 son poco estables; en la escala B 8 de 26 y en la escala C, 3 ítems de 38. El valor de alfa de Cronbach de la escala A es de 0,722, de la escala B de 0,861 y el de la escala C, 0,663. Conclusiones Las 3 escalas están entre los valores adecuados, excepto la escala C que aun así se encuentra muy próxima. Las conclusiones de este proceso de validación pueden servir de referencia y extrapolarse al cuestionario UNIMEDFAM a nivel estatal. Aim Family medicine deals with certain aspects and perspectives that are often left behind in the training of other levels of care, thus the need for medical students to make contact with Primary Care is of increasing importance. The aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability of the questionnaire of the UNIMEDIFAM group (FIS PI070975) for the long-term outcome of expectations and knowledge about family medicine. Design Reliability of a questionnaire. Setting University of Zaragoza. Participants 371 students from the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th years. Method The internal consistency of the questionnaire was determined using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and the stability using the test-retest. Results On scale A of the questionnaire we found that three of 19 items were unstable, in 8 of 26 on scale B, and 3 of 38 items on scale C. The Cronbach's alpha value of scale A was 0.722, 0.861 on scale B, and 0,663 on scale C. Conclusions The 3 scales are within the appropriate values, except scale C, which is very close. The findings of this validation process can serve as a reference that may be extrapolated to the UNIMEDIFAM national questionnaire

Medical students’ perceptions and attitudes about family practice: a qualitative research synthesis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>During the last decade medical students from most Western countries have shown little interest in family practice. Understanding the factors that influence medical students to choose family medicine is crucial.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To systematically review and synthesize published evidence about medical students’ attitudes and perceptions towards family practice.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A qualitative systematic review. The literature search was undertaken in July 2010 in PubMed, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Social Science Citation Index (SSCI), and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. Two authors independently selected the studies for their inclusion and assessed their quality. The selected studies were thoroughly read. Key themes and categories were identified. A matrix was created for allowing the comparison of each theme across studies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ten studies were finally included. Seven broad themes were identified across them: 1) Scope and context of practice was a broad theme comprising linked sub-themes: perception of a varied specialty, broad practice, holistic perspective and flexibility that allows having a family; 2) Lower interest or intellectually less challenging: treating common disease, repetitive, quasi administrative job; 3) Influence of role models, either positive and negative, and society: negative comments from other professionals, peers and family; 4) Lower prestige; 5) Poor remuneration; 6) Medical school influences, being important both the length and quality of the exposure; 7) Post graduate training, where the shorter duration and the lower intensity were perceived as positive aspects. After identifying these seven key themes, were also looked into patterns in the distribution of these themes among studies.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our qualitative review provides a comprehensive picture of medical students’ attitudes towards family practice in the available literature. In general, although some students find family medicine appealing, it is regarded as a career of low interest and prestige. More research is needed on the influence of role models, medical school and post graduate training.</p