Survey on Variables Influencing Residency Selection in Gynecology and Obstetrics

Abstract

Introduction: The choice of specialty is a capital decision in the life of a doctor because it is the area to which he or she will dedicate his or her future professional life. Knowing the reasons that Gynecology and Obstetrics residents in Colombia had for choosing this specialty will allow guiding educational and administrative actions that benefit these students and the health system. Material and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional survey-type study in which residents of the Gynecology and Obstetrics specialty from programs in Bogotá, Chia and Medellin, Colombia, were invited to participate voluntarily and anonymously, using an electronic form with questions about the objective of the study. Results: 44 answered forms were received, which are summarized
in tables with their percentages. These include a Likert-type table with the variables of important, more or less important and unimportant. The majority of responses came from resident physicians at public universities in Bogotá (61.3%) and from women with the same percentage. The majority entered this training five years after graduating as a doctor, it was during undergraduate studies when the decision was made and they attribute personal characteristics themselves to the choice and later to obtain a good performance during the residency. Conclusions: The majority of responses were generated from women in public university programs. The choice of specialty occurred mostly during the period of university studies and entry occurred five years after graduation.