Profile and professional expectations of medical students from 11 Latin American countries: the Red-LIRHUS project

Background Latin America is undergoing a human resource crisis in health care in terms of labor shortage, misdistribution and poor orientation to primary care. Workforce data are needed to inform the planning of long-term strategies to address this problem. This study aimed to evaluate the academic and motivational profile, as well as the professional expectations, of Latin American medical students. Results We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, multi-country study evaluating medical students from 11 Spanish-speaking countries in 2011–2012. Motivations to study medicine, migration intentions, intent to enter postgraduate programs, and perceptions regarding primary care were evaluated via a self-administered questionnaire. Outcomes were measured with pilot-tested questions and previously validated scales. A total of 11,072 valid surveys from 63 medical schools were gathered and analyzed. Conclusions This study describes the profile and expectations of the future workforce being trained in Latin America. The obtained information will be useful for governments and universities in planning strategies to improve their current state of affairs regarding human resources for health care professions

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Medical degree earned with a thesis in medical schools of Lima, 2011: characteristics, motivations and perceptions

We surveyed physicians who obtained their medical degree with a thesis in 2011 from the seven medical schools in Lima to know the characteristics of the degree by thesis process, as well as participants’ motivations and perceptions of that process. We included 98 students who did a thesis (87% of total); 99% conducted observational thesis, 30% did so in groups of three. The main motivation was that it was good for their curriculum vitae (94%). At the university where the thesis is compulsory, the process began with the choice of topic and adviser. Perceived “greatest” and “least” difficulty in the process was the completion of administrative procedures (53%) and selection of their advisor (11%), respectively. Administrative timeliness and processes should be reviewed so as not to impede the completion of thesis, since the new University Act requires the completion of a thesis to graduate.Revisión por pare

Medical degree earned with a thesis in medical schools of Lima, 2011: characteristics, motivations and perceptions

We surveyed physicians who obtained their medical degree with a thesis in 2011 from the seven medical schools in Lima to know the characteristics of the degree by thesis process, as well as participants’ motivations and perceptions of that process. We included 98 students who did a thesis (87% of total); 99% conducted observational thesis, 30% did so in groups of three. The main motivation was that it was good for their curriculum vitae (94%). At the university where the thesis is compulsory, the process began with the choice of topic and adviser. Perceived “greatest” and “least” difficulty in the process was the completion of administrative procedures (53%) and selection of their advisor (11%), respectively. Administrative timeliness and processes should be reviewed so as not to impede the completion of thesis, since the new University Act requires the completion of a thesis to graduate.Revisión por pare

Titulación por tesis en escuelas de medicina de Lima, 2011: características, motivaciones y percepciones

Se encuestó a los médicos titulados por tesis de las siete escuelas de Medicina de Lima en el 2011 de las siete escuelas de Medicina de Lima para conocer las características del proceso de titulación por tesis, sus motivaciones y sus percepciones sobre dicho proceso. Se incluyó 98 tesistas (87% del total), 99% realizó tesis observacionales y el 35% realizó la tesis de manera individual (solo un tesista) en grupo de tres. La principal motivación fue que era bueno para su currículo (94%). En aquella universidad donde la tesis es obligatoria se empezó antes la elección del tema y el asesor. La percepción de mayor y menor dificultad en el proceso fue la realización de los trámites administrativos (53%) y seleccionar a su asesor (11%), respectivamente. Se deben revisar los procesos y tiempos administrativos para que no dificulten la realización de tesis, puesto que la nueva Ley Universitaria obliga a la elaboración de tesis para titularse

Titulación por tesis en escuelas de medicina de Lima, 2011: características, motivaciones y percepciones

We surveyed physicians who obtained their medical degree with a thesis in 2011 from the seven medical schools in Lima to know the characteristics of the degree by thesis process, as well as participants’ motivations and perceptions of that process. We included 98 students who did a thesis (87% of total); 99% conducted observational thesis, 30% did so in groups of three. The main motivation was that it was good for their curriculum vitae (94%). At the university where the thesis is compulsory, the process began with the choice of topic and adviser. Perceived “greatest” and “least” difficulty in the process was the completion of administrative procedures (53%) and selection of their advisor (11%), respectively. Administrative timeliness and processes should be reviewed so as not to impede the completion of thesis, since the new University Act requires the completion of a thesis to graduate.Se encuestó a los médicos titulados por tesis de las siete escuelas de Medicina de Lima en el 2011 de las siete escuelas de Medicina de Lima para conocer las características del proceso de titulación por tesis, sus motivaciones y sus percepciones sobre dicho proceso. Se incluyó 98 tesistas (87% del total), 99% realizó tesis observacionales y el 35% realizó la tesis de manera individual (solo un tesista) en grupo de tres. La principal motivación fue que era bueno para su currículo (94%). En aquella universidad donde la tesis es obligatoria se empezó antes la elección del tema y el asesor. La percepción de mayor y menor dificultad en el proceso fue la realización de los trámites administrativos (53%) y seleccionar a su asesor (11%), respectivamente. Se deben revisar los procesos y tiempos administrativos para que no dificulten la realización de tesis, puesto que la nueva Ley Universitaria obliga a la elaboración de tesis para titularse

Titulación por tesis en escuelas de medicina de Lima, 2011: características, motivaciones y percepciones

Se encuestó a los médicos titulados por tesis de las siete escuelas de Medicina de Lima en el 2011 de las siete escuelas de Medicina de Lima para conocer las características del proceso de titulación por tesis, sus motivaciones y sus percepciones sobre dicho proceso. Se incluyó 98 tesistas (87% del total), 99% realizó tesis observacionales y el 35% realizó la tesis de manera individual (solo un tesista) en grupo de tres. La principal motivación fue que era bueno para su currículo (94%). En aquella universidad donde la tesis es obligatoria se empezó antes la elección del tema y el asesor. La percepción de mayor y menor dificultad en el proceso fue la realización de los trámites administrativos (53%) y seleccionar a su asesor (11%), respectivamente. Se deben revisar los procesos y tiempos administrativos para que no dificulten la realización de tesis, puesto que la nueva Ley Universitaria obliga a la elaboración de tesis para titularse

Profile and professional expectations of medical students from 11 Latin American countries: the Red-LIRHUS project

Background Latin America is undergoing a human resource crisis in health care in terms of labor shortage, misdistribution and poor orientation to primary care. Workforce data are needed to inform the planning of long-term strategies to address this problem. This study aimed to evaluate the academic and motivational profile, as well as the professional expectations, of Latin American medical students. Results We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, multi-country study evaluating medical students from 11 Spanish-speaking countries in 2011–2012. Motivations to study medicine, migration intentions, intent to enter postgraduate programs, and perceptions regarding primary care were evaluated via a self-administered questionnaire. Outcomes were measured with pilot-tested questions and previously validated scales. A total of 11,072 valid surveys from 63 medical schools were gathered and analyzed. Conclusions This study describes the profile and expectations of the future workforce being trained in Latin America. The obtained information will be useful for governments and universities in planning strategies to improve their current state of affairs regarding human resources for health care professions

Profile and professional expectations of medical students from 11 Latin American countries: the Red-LIRHUS project

Abstract Background Latin America is undergoing a human resource crisis in health care in terms of labor shortage, misdistribution and poor orientation to primary care. Workforce data are needed to inform the planning of long-term strategies to address this problem. This study aimed to evaluate the academic and motivational profile, as well as the professional expectations, of Latin American medical students. Results We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, multi-country study evaluating medical students from 11 Spanish-speaking countries in 2011–2012. Motivations to study medicine, migration intentions, intent to enter postgraduate programs, and perceptions regarding primary care were evaluated via a self-administered questionnaire. Outcomes were measured with pilot-tested questions and previously validated scales. A total of 11,072 valid surveys from 63 medical schools were gathered and analyzed. Conclusions This study describes the profile and expectations of the future workforce being trained in Latin America. The obtained information will be useful for governments and universities in planning strategies to improve their current state of affairs regarding human resources for health care professions