Attitude of Undergraduate Medical Interns towards Family Medicine in a Regional General Hospital in Acapulco, Guerrero

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the attitude of Undergraduate Medical Interns (umi) towards Family Medicine and to know their choice of specialty, in a regional hospital of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (imss). Methods: cross-sectional and analytical design. The “Attitude towards Family Medicine Questionnaire” was applied to the umi of the Vicente Guerrero Regional General Hospital of the imss in Acapulco, Mexico in June 2016 which explores the social and demographic data, attitude towards family medicine, choice of a medical specialty and associated factors to this choice, of each undergraduate medical interns. The sample consisted of all the umi, n=100, the type of sampling was not randomized by convenience. Results: 90% of the umi showed a positive attitude towards family medicine and recognized its importance, however, only 1% of them chose it as their first option of specialty. The reasons for not choosing it were: they do not like it or considered it as boring; it is the same as being General practitioner or it is not interesting, they do not know the specialty, and therefore they consider, it has a limited labor field. Conclusion: the umi have a good attitude towards Family Medicine, but the majority would not choose it as specialty.