Medical student traits associated with future success as physicians
Garduño-Espinosa, J.; Hernández-Ronquillo, L.; Tellez-Zenteno, J.F.; Espinosa-Morales, F.; Campos-Castolo, M.; Carrillo-Manríquez, L.M.; Cuevas-Urióstegui, M.L.; Viniegra-Velázquez, L.; Martínez-García, M.C.
Revista de Investigacion Clinica; Organo del Hospital de Enfermedades de la Nutricion 47(5): 355-364
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-8376 PMID: 8584805 Document Number: 449358
To identify the individual and family factors present during medical studies which are associated to success as a physician. Prolective case-control study. Mexico City metropolitan area. 120 physicians considered to be successful and 245 physicians who according to an established criteria were considered to be non-successful. A success-achieving index was constructed on the opinion of 134 physicians from different health-care institutions private and public. The index was composed by criteria such as being a member of prestiged academic associations; having a practice in third level institutions; having done postgraduate studies; being a professor with teaching and research activities; having obtained directive medical positions; and a high income at the moment of the interview. The main factors associated to success were: frequent attendance to cultural activities by the family of the subjects (OR = 5.2, IC 95% = 3.15-8.60, p = 0.00000001); the global score obtained during their medical studies, i.e. higher than 8.5 over 10 (OR = 4.43, IC 95% = 2.64-7.49, p = 0.00000001); and having been awarded recognitions, prizes or scholarships during their medical studies (OR = 4.3, IC 95% = 2.64-7.03, p = 0.00000001). A logistic regression model selected the cultural activities of the family, global score during medical studies and earning of recognitions, prizes and scholarships as independent variables associated to success achievement (p = 0.00001). Frequent cultural activities by the family and academic behavior were the factors present during medical studies which were associated to ulterior success as a physician.