Factors associated to the choice of forensic medicine specialty in Costa Rican students

Abstract

Introduction: Decision making for the choice of a medical specialty is a dynamic, complex and constantly evolving process that must satisfy the existing needs in a country.

Objective: to identify factors that influence medicine and surgery students at the University of Costa Rica to consider the specialty of forensic medicine as a specialization option.

Method: Exploratory study, which used a questionnaire applied voluntarily and anonymously to students, which categorized through the Likert scale the importance of influence of personal factors, related to the career/school/university and to graduation. A descriptive analysis of the results was carried out, classifying them by type of factor.

Results: The highest percentage in importance in choice was obtained in the category of personal factors, in terms of vocation, preference or liking for the specialty and its characteristics (71.8%). In the type of graduation factors, the possibility offered by the specialty of obtaining a quick job upon completion and the possibility of doing residency, were qualified respectively with 64.1% and 61.5% as very important factors in their choice. In the type of factors related to the career/school/university, were cited as very important in the choice: the quality of the medical practices (56.4%) and the influence of good and well-prepared classes in the course linked to the specialty (53.8%).

Discussion: The factors related to the career/school/university constitute strengths to take into account in possible university strategies, to improve the perception of the specialty and to influence on particular personal factors of the students and factors related to the graduation of the career. Continuing medical education university programs become relevant.

Conclusions: There are university factors that make medicine and surgery students consider specializing in legal medicine and that it is necessary to strengthen.