Fatores associados à intenção de seguir carreira na Atenção Primária à Saúde entre estudantes de medicina

Abstract

The shortage of doctors to work in the Family Health Strategy is considered one of the main challenges for Primary Health Care (PHC) consolidation in Brazil. Despite implemented initiatives to provide human resources to priority areas of the Brazilian health system, there is still an inconsistency between medical training needs and professional career choice. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence and factors associated with the interest of medical students in following a professional career in PHC. This is a cross-sectional, analytical study carried out with the participation of medical students of the last two years of the course, in four medical schools in Minas Gerais state, selected by non-intentional convenience sampling. The students answered a self-administered questionnaire, with questions that included the sociodemographic and economic profile of the student, the experience quality within PHC throughout the course, career intention and intention to attend residency in family practice. The bivariate analysis was performed using Pearson's chi-square test and the variables that were associated up to the level of 20% were evaluated jointly by means of binary logistic regression, assuming a significance level of 5% in the final model. 524 students in the fifth and sixth years participated in the study. Among these, 26,3 % indicated interest in following a professional career in PHC. Within evaluated factors, the ones statistically associated with this interest were: female sex, college admission through the University for All Program (Prouni), previous graduation, report of greater aptitude for clinical specialties and positive experience in PHC during graduation. The percentage of students who wish to work in PHC was higher than the recorded in previous studies, but still below the needs of the Brazilian National Health System. Among the factors associated with the intention to work in PHC, the successful PHC experience during graduation is worth highlighting. Because this is an easily modifiable factor, strategies that promote successful PHC experiences should be encouraged.