Self-perception of the Professional Competence of Students in a Course of Family Medicine Specialization for General Practitioners in Mexico

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate self-perception of students about their professional competence to solve specific problems in some areas of medical care. Material and methods: descriptive and crosssectional study. Sampling by convenience, the students of the third year of Family Medicine Specialization were asked to voluntarily participate to answer anonymously a questionnaire, which was applied to 247 students from a total of 880 students of the third year of the Course of Specialization in Family Medicine for General Practitioners (CEMFMG), during 2007. The questionnaire explored competition in two areas: clinical skills and skills in particular areas of Family Medicine. Results: it was identified a high perception of professional competence, however, although with low percentages, some physicians reported lack of competence in situations that should dominate as aspects of frequent submission in daily work of the Family Physician: interpretation of the electrocardiogram, management of the depressed patient, obesity, headaches, epilepsy, pregnancy complications, family violence and disorders of the spinal column. Conclusions: it was detected areas with a low perception of professional competence. Most of the students of the CEMFMG perceived competent for the majority of the researched conditions. It is required to conduct longitudinal studies to confirm these findings.