Assessment of medical student interest in undertaking medical residency

• Grant number: 24/16221-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Epidemiology
• Principal Investigator: Newton Kara José Junior
• Grantee: Bianca Jimena Saldaña Lagos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

DESCRIPTIONAccording to the Medical Demography in Brazil 2023 study, the country has 62.3% of specialist doctors, in relation to the total number of professionals in activity (3). With the increase in the number of vacancies in medical schools, without there having been a proportional increase in vacancies in Medical Residency programs, the proportion of general practitioners will probably tend to increase.However, other factors also seem to contribute to this scenario, such as the lack of interest of medical students in taking the residency exam and specializing. Some considerations can be made regarding the reason for the apparent lack of interest of medical graduates in specializing, such as greater competition; the value of the resident scholarship; financially attractive job opportunities as general practitioners right after graduation; student debt; indecision about the specialty; the need to rest before starting specialization.It is not yet known how relevant these possible reasons are or whether there are others, as justification for the fact that fewer and fewer graduates take the residency exam at the end of the course. We also consider that the student's dedication to the course may vary according to their interest in continuing to improve. Likewise, there may be students who would like to specialize, even though the logistical conditions are not favorable to them, who would need different guidance and opportunities, as we believe that medical students are currently "going through the same storm, but they are not all in the same boat". Even considering that the objective of medical school is to train general practitioners to work in the Unified Health System (SUS), we believe it is important for teachers to understand the different profiles of students and their objectives, as well as the influence of factors such as financial need and student quotas on the professional ambition of undergraduates, in order to offer adequate guidance and direct opportunities such as mentoring, scientific initiation, elective courses and academic leagues.