Expectations of general practitioners toward specialization, in Medellín, Colombia, 2000

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was done during the second semester, 2000, among general practitioners in Medellín, Colombia, in order to find out their expectations concerning specialization, their reasons for keeping in general practice, their working conditions in the frame of Colombia’s health reform and how adecuate their education had been for facing the reality of their work. The study was performed in general practitioners working in officially registered health providing institutions. Results show that general practitioners in this city consider themselves to be technically well prepared to perform their duties; however, they find their education lacking in public health and social areas, as well as labour aspects and health reform. One third of the respondents did not considered the pursuit of a specialization to be necessary. Law 100, 1993, is considered the main cause for discredit and the disadvantageous present conditions of medical exercise.