Experiencia docente en un programa de formación de Medicina Familiar y General a distancia / Teaching experience in a distance learning program for Family and General Medicine

La distribución inequitativa del talento humano en salud afecta la capacidad de los sistemas de ofrecer servicios esenciales. En la provincia de Córdoba, el primer nivel de atención es responsabilidad de los municipios, pero el nivel provincial procura sostener la rectoría y ser garante del derecho a la salud. En ese marco, se desarrolló un programa para reducir las brechas en la distribución de médicos: el Plan Cordobés de Médicos del Interior. Acompañando ese plan se ejecutó un convenio específico con la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba para garantizar la formación en la especialidad de Medicina Familiar y General. Ingresaron al programa 170 personas, y hoy contamos con 98 médicos en formación o seguimiento. En este artículo damos cuenta de la experiencia docente, los desafíos y dificultades que supuso afrontar una formación en lugares de práctica variados, y con el aporte de las tecnologías de la información y comunicación. Esperamos que la experiencia sirva para transmitir los aprendizajes de nuestra práctica (AU)

The inequitable distribution of human talent in health affects the capacity of systems to offer essential services. In the province of Córdoba, the primary level of care is the responsibility of municipalities, but the provincial level aims to maintain leadership and guarantee the right to health. Within this framework, a program was developed to reduce gaps in the distribution of physicians: the Cordobés Plan for Interior Physicians. Accompanying this plan, a specific agreement was executed with the National University of Córdoba to ensure training in the specialty of Family and General Medicine. 170 individuals entered the program, and today we have 98 physicians in training or under supervision. In this article, we give an account of the teaching experience, the challenges, and difficulties involved in facing training in various practice settings, along with the contribution of information and communication technologies. We hope that this experience serves to transmit the lessons learned from our practice (AU)

Presencia de egresados y egresadas de la Universidad Nacional del Sur en el sistema de residencias médicas de Bahía Blanca / Presence of graduates from the National University of the Sur in the medical residency system of Bahía Blanca

Introducción: La atracción, captación y retención son determinantes de una distribución equitativa de profesionales de la salud. Objetivo: describir las decisiones de formación de posgrado de egresados/as de medicina de la Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), y su impacto en el sistema de residencias médicas de Bahía Blanca durante el año 2023. Resultados: el 79,63% de quienes egresaron de esta universidad decidieron realizar una residencia médica, y el 51,12 % adjudicó en especialidades del Primer Nivel de Atención con una adjudicación en pediatría menor a la media nacional. La carrera de medicina local cubrió el 39,24 % de las vacantes de Bahía Blanca, y el 38% de sus graduados/as decidió formarse en otras ciudades. Ocho residencias de la ciudad quedaron sin ingresantes en el 2023. Conclusión: existe una gran proporción de egresados/as de la UNS que eligen especialidades de APS. Hay una baja adjudicación en Pediatría que contrasta con la elección de Medicina Familiar, a diferencia de las elecciones a nivel nacional. En términos generales hay un déficit en la atracción y captación de egresados/as de la UNS por parte del sistema de salud local, lo cual demanda a los sectores docentes y asistenciales nuevas estrategias para captar y atraer profesionales en área prioritarias (AU)

Introduction: Attraction, recruitment and retention are determinants of an equitable distribution of healthcare professionals. Objective: to describe the postgraduate training decisions of medical graduates from the National University of the South (UNS), and their impact on the Bahía Blanca medical residency system during the year 2023. Results: 79.63% of Those who graduated from this university decided to carry out medical residency, and 51.12% were awarded in First Level Care specialties with a pediatric award lower than the national average. The local medical career covered 39.24% of the vacancies in Bahía Blanca, and 38% of its graduates decided to train in other cities. Eight residences in the city were left without entrants in 2023. Conclusion: there is a large proportion of UNS graduates who choose APS specialties. There is a low allocation in Pediatrics that contrasts with the choice of Family Medicine, unlike the elections at the national level. In general terms, there is a deficit in the attraction and recruitment of UNS graduates by the local health system, which demands new strategies from the teaching and healthcare sectors to attract and attract professionals in priority areas (AU)

Gender, flexibility and workforce in the NHS: A qualitative study.

Data from the General Medical Council show that the number of female doctors registered to practise in the UK continues to grow at a faster rate than the number of male doctors. Our research critically discusses the impact of this gender-based shift, considering how models of medical training are still ill-suited to supporting equity and inclusivity within the workforce, with particular impacts for women despite this gender shift. Drawing on data from our research project Mapping underdoctored areas: the impact of medical training pathways on NHS workforce distribution and health inequalities, this paper explores the experiences of doctors working in the NHS, considering how policies around workforce and beyond have impacted people's willingness and ability to continue in their chosen career path. There is clear evidence that women are underrepresented in some specialties such as surgery, and at different career stages including in senior leadership roles, and our research focuses on the structural factors that contribute to reinforcing these under-representations. Medical education and training are known to be formative points in doctors' lives, with long-lasting impacts for NHS service provision. By understanding in detail how these pathways inadvertently shape where doctors live and work, we will be able to consider how best to change existing systems to provide patients with timely and appropriate access to healthcare. We take a cross-disciplinary theoretical approach, bringing historical, spatiotemporal and sociological insights to healthcare problems. Here, we draw on our first 50 interviews with practising doctors employed in the NHS in areas that struggle to recruit and retain doctors, and explore the gendered nature of career biographies. We also pay attention to the ways in which doctors carve their own career pathways out of, or despite of, personal and professional disruptions.

Dificuldades enfrentadas pelos profissionais de saúde no atendimento de emergências em unidades básicas de saúde no Brasil / Difficulties faced by health professionals in emergency care in primary health care units in Brazil / Dificultades enfrentadas por los profesionales de salud en la atención de emergencias en unidades básicas de salud en Brasil

Objetivos: compreender as dificuldades enfrentadas pelos profissionais de saúde para o atendimento de casos de urgências/emergências em unidades básica de saúde e identificar as proposições de resolubilidade. Métodos: Pesquisa qualitativa, realizada com dez profissionais de saúde, em uma unidade básica de saúde do interior paulista. As entrevistas foram transcritas e analisadas utilizando-se a estratégia metodológica do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Resultados: As dificuldades foram atreladas a fatores como despreparo da equipe, falta de infraestrutura, insumos e equipamentos, carência de profissional médico, pouca aproximação das unidades básicas de saúde com o setor de emergência hospitalar e escasso investimento do município para realização desses atendimentos. As proposições de melhorias destacaram a necessidade de capacitação dos profissionais de saúde, investimentos em recursos materiais e equipamentos, permanência de médico em período integral no serviço, implantação de protocolos de atendimento e empenho dos gestores. Conclusão: Os discursos evidenciaram que o serviço não tem condições de atender casos de urgência/emergência, em virtude do despreparo da equipe e da falta de recursos humanos e materiais. Além disso, não é prioridade do município oferecer condições mínimas para a realização deste atendimento nas unidades básicas de saúde, para que sejam integrantes da rede de atenção de Atenção às Urgências no Sistema Único de Saúde.

Objective: understand the difficulties health professionals face in urgency/emergency care at primary health care units and identify the propositions of problem-solving ability. Methods: Qualitative research, conducted with ten health professionals at a primary health care unit in the interior of São Paulo. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the methodological strategy of the collective subject discourse. Results: The difficulties were linked to factors such as unpreparedness of the team, lack of infrastructure, supplies and equipment, lack of medical professional, little cooperation between the primary health care units and the hospital emergency sector and scarce investment of the municipality to carry out these services. The proposals for improvements highlighted the need for training of health professionals, investments in material resources and equipment, full-time presence of physician at the service, implementation of care protocols and commitment of managers. Conclusion: The discourse showed that the service is not able to attend urgency/emergency cases, due to the unpreparedness of the team and the lack of human and material resources. In addition, the municipality does not prioritize the supply of minimum conditions for this care in primary health care units to make them part of the emergency care network in the Unified Health System.

Objetivo: comprender las dificultades enfrentadas por los profesionales de salud para la atención de casos de Urgencias/Emergencias en unidades básicas de salud e identificar las proposiciones de resolubilidad. Métodos: Investigación cualitativa, desarrollada con diez profesionales de salud, en una unidad básica de salud del interior paulista. Las entrevistas fueron transcritas y analizadas utilizando la estrategia metodológica del Discurso del Sujeto Colectivo. Resultados: Las dificultades fueron ligadas a factores como la falta de preparación del equipo, falta de infraestructura, insumos y equipamientos, carencia de profesional médico, poca aproximación de las unidades básicas de salud con el sector de emergencia hospitalaria y escasa inversión del municipio para realizar esas atenciones. Las propuestas de mejorías destacaron la necesidad de capacitación de los profesionales de salud, inversiones en recursos materiales y equipamientos, permanencia de médico a tiempo completo en el servicio, implantación de protocolos de atención y empeño de los gestores. Conclusión: Los discursos evidenciaron que el servicio no tiene condiciones de atender casos de urgencia/emergencia, en virtud de la falta de preparación del equipo y de la falta de recursos humanos y materiales. Además, no es prioridad del municipio ofrecer condiciones mínimas para la realización de esta atención en las unidades básicas de salud, para que sean integrantes de la red de atención de atención a las urgencias en el Sistema Único de Salud.

Programa Mais Médicos: identificação e análise dos cursos de medicina abertos / Mais Médicos Program: Identification and Analysis of Open Medical Undergraduate Programs

Resumo O Programa Mais Médicos (PMM), lançado em 2013, objetivou combater a má distribuição médica no Brasil. Para tanto, uma das estratégias adotadas foi a reordenação da oferta de cursos de medicina. Com base nisso, este estudo pretendeu investigar o impacto do PMM na abertura de novos cursos de medicina no Brasil, identificando aqueles abertos em decorrência da lei. Com a realização de uma pesquisa documental nas bases de dados do Ministério da Educação, verificou-se a abertura de 135 desses cursos entre janeiro de 2014 e fevereiro de 2022, sendo 68 abertos em decorrência do PMM, a maioria na rede privada (79%). A preferência pela abertura desses novos cursos na região Sudeste (35%) pode estar relacionada à sua maior estrutura, o que facilitaria a instalação e o estabelecimento de parcerias com organizações hospitalares para o ensino prático exigido. Também se notou uma expansão dos cursos privados nas regiões Nordeste, Sudeste e Sul, e dos cursos públicos nas regiões Centro-Oeste e Norte. Entretanto, a análise regional detalhada mostrou que a política pública tem fracassado em combater a má distribuição de médicos por meio da abertura dos novos cursos, pois priorizou estados que já possuíam consideráveis indicadores de força de trabalho.

Abstract Launched in 2013, the Mais Médicos Program (PMM) aimed to combat poor physician allocation in Brazil by reorganizing the offer of Medicine Programs. Thus, this study investigates the impact of the PMM on the opening of new medical undergraduate programs in Brazil, identifying those offered as a result of the law. By means of documentary research in the Ministry of Education databases, the study identified a total of new 135 medical programs opened between January 2014 and February 2022, 68 of which as a result of the PMM, mostly in the private network (79%). The preference for opening new courses in the Southeast (35%) may be due to its larger structure, which would facilitate implementation and establishing partnerships with hospital organizations for the required practical teaching. The findings point to an expansion of private programs in the Northeast, Southeast and South, and of public programs in the Mid-West and North regions. However, a detailed regional analysis showed that public policy has failed in combating poor medical allocation through this strategy, as it prioritized states with considerable labor force indicators.

Geographic disparities in Saskatchewan prostate cancer incidence and its association with physician density: analysis using Bayesian models.

BACKGROUND: Saskatchewan has one of the highest incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) in Canada. This study assesses if geographic factors in Saskatchewan, including location of where patients live and physician density are affecting the PCa incidence. First, the objective of this study is to estimate the PCa standardized incidence ratio (SIRs) in Saskatchewan stratified by PCa risk-level. Second, this study identifies clusters of higher than and lower than expected PCa SIRs in Saskatchewan. Lastly, this study identifies the association (if any) between family physician density and estimated PCa SIRs in Saskatchewan. METHODS: First, using Global Moran's I, Local Moran's I, and the Kuldorff's Spatial Scan Statistic, the study identifies clusters of PCa stratified by risk-levels. Then this study estimates the SIRs of PCa and its association with family physician density in Saskatchewan using the Besag, York, and Mollie (BYM) Bayesian method. RESULTS: Higher than expected clusters of crude estimated SIR for metastatic PCa were identified in north-east Saskatchewan and lower than expected clusters were identified in south-east Saskatchewan. Areas in north-west Saskatchewan have lower than expected crude estimated SIRs for both intermediate-risk and low-risk PCa. Family physician density was negatively associated with SIRs of metastatic PCa (IRR: 0.935 [CrI: 0.880 to 0.998]) and SIRs of high-risk PCa (IRR: 0.927 [CrI: 0.880 to 0.975]). CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies the geographical disparities in risk-stratified PCa incidence in Saskatchewan. The study identifies areas with a lower family physician density have a higher-than-expected incidences of metastatic and high-risk PCa. Hence policies to increase the number of physicians should ensure an equitable geographic distribution of primary care physicians to support early detection of diseases, including PCa.

Overall survival based on oncologist density in the United States: A retrospective cohort study.

Medically underserved areas (MUA) or health professional shortage areas (HPSA) designations are based on primary care health services availability. These designations are used in recruiting international medical graduates (IMGs) trained in primary care or subspecialty (e.g., oncology) to areas of need. Whether the MUA/HPSA designation correlates with Oncologist Density (OD) and supports IMG oncologists' recruitment to areas of need is unknown. We evaluated the concordance of OD with the designation of MUAs/HPSAs and evaluated the impact of OD and MUA/HPSA status on overall survival. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies or metastatic solid tumors in 2011 from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. SEER was linked to the American Medical Association Masterfile to calculate OD, defined as the number of oncologists per 100,000 population at the county level. We calculated the proportion of counties with MUA or HPSA designation for each OD category. Overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between the OD category using a log-rank test. We identified 68,699 adult patients with hematologic malignancies or metastatic solid cancers in 609 counties. The proportion of MUA/HPSA designation was similar across counties categorized by OD (93.2%, 95.4%, 90.3%, and 91.7% in counties with <2.9, 2.9-6.5, 6.5-8.4 and >8.4 oncologists per 100K population, p = 0.7). Patients' median survival in counties with the lowest OD was significantly lower compared to counties with the highest OD (8 vs. 11 months, p<0.0001). The difference remained statistically significant in multivariate and subgroup analysis. MUA/HPSA status was not associated with survival (HR 1.03, 95%CI 0.97-1.09, p = 0.3). MUA/HPSA designation based on primary care services is not concordant with OD. Patients in counties with lower OD correlated with inferior survival. Federal programs designed to recruit physicians in high-need areas should consider the availability of health care services beyond primary care.

Hypertension in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

In recent decades low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have been witnessing a significant shift toward raised blood pressure; yet in LMICs, only 1 in 3 are aware of their hypertension status, and ≈8% have their blood pressure controlled. This rising burden widens the inequality gap, contributes to massive economic hardships of patients and carers, and increases costs to the health system, facing challenges such as low physician-to-patient ratios and lack of access to medicines. Established risk factors include unhealthy diet (high salt and low fruit and vegetable intake), physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use, and obesity. Emerging risk factors include pollution (air, water, noise, and light), urbanization, and a loss of green space. Risk factors that require further in-depth research are low birth weight and social and commercial determinants of health. Global actions include the HEARTS technical package and the push for universal health care. Promising research efforts highlight that successful interventions are feasible in LMICs. These include creation of health-promoting environments by introducing salt-reduction policies and sugar and alcohol tax; implementing cost-effective screening and simplified treatment protocols to mitigate treatment inertia; pooled procurement of low-cost single-pill combination therapy to improve adherence; increasing access to telehealth and mHealth (mobile health); and training health care staff, including community health workers, to strengthen team-based care. As the blood pressure trajectory continues creeping upward in LMICs, contextual research on effective, safe, and cost-effective interventions is urgent. New emergent risk factors require novel solutions. Lowering blood pressure in LMICs requires urgent global political and scientific priority and action.

Early medical school graduation during the COVID-19 pandemic: preliminary assessment / Graduação antecipada do curso de medicina durante a pandemia de COVID-19: avaliação preliminar

Abstract: Introduction: The current outbreak of the new coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, was first reported to the World Health Organization on December 31, 2019, being declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. As for the clinical spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 infection, it is a broad one, ranging from asymptomatic, mild upper respiratory tract disease to severe viral pneumonia with respiratory failure and death. With a chance of severe clinical presentation close to 25%, SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to health service overload and increase the demand for material and human resources. Aiming to increase the availability of health professionals directly involved in care during the pandemic, the Ministry of Education authorized the early graduation for students pursuing careers in health, including medicine. Objective: The aim of this article is to obtain preliminary results of the impact of early graduation for medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Observational and cross-sectional study, carried out by applying a questionnaire with 13 questions, five of which used a Likert scale of assessment, six in multiple choice format and two descriptive, via Google Forms, applied to medical students from the universities of Curitiba-PR that graduated earlier in mid-year 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: 113 recently graduated students answered the questionnaire.101 participants reported that they are working as physicians and, among them, 63.36% stated that they are working directly in the treatment of COVID-19 cases. Regarding the importance of an early graduation, most participants fully agree or agree, while only three participants totally disagree. More than half of the interviewees do not feel harmed by the early graduation. However, 43.3% believe they have failed to acquire important information for their training. Finally, regarding their performance in the pandemic, 79.6% consider important their role in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The study shows that, at first, the efforts to give the Class of 2020 an early graduation were successful, since these new physicians are contributing to alleviate workforce shortages and provide better care for patients during the pandemic.

Resumo: Introdução: O atual surto do novo coronavírus ou Sars-CoV-2, causador da Covid-19, foi relatado pela primeira vez à Organização Mundial da Saúde, pela China, em 31 de dezembro de 2019, sendo declarada pandemia em 11 de março de 2020. Quanto ao espectro clínico da infecção pelo Sars-CoV-2, ele é amplo, variando de quadro assintomático, doença leve do trato respiratório superior, a pneumonia viral grave com insuficiência respiratória e morte. Com uma chance de apresentação clínica grave próxima a 25%, a infecção pelo Sars-CoV-2 pode levar à sobrecarga dos serviços de saúde e aumentar a demanda tanto por recursos materiais como humanos. Para aumentar a disponibilidade de profissionais da área da saúde envolvidos diretamente no atendimento durante a pandemia, o Ministério da Educação autorizou a antecipação da formatura para estudantes de várias áreas da saúde, incluindo Medicina. Objetivo: O objetivo do presente artigo é realizar uma avaliação preliminar do impacto da antecipação da graduação para os formandos de Medicina durante a pandemia de Covid-19. Método: Trata-se de estudo observacional e transversal realizado por meio da aplicação de questionário com 13 perguntas: em cinco, utilizou-se escala Likert de avaliação; em seis, adotou-se o formato de múltipla escolha; e duas foram descritivas. O questionário foi enviado, via Formulário Google, a alunos de Medicina das universidades de Curitiba, no Paraná, formados no primeiro semestre de 2020, que anteciparam a outorga de grau em razão da pandemia de Covid-19. Resultados: Responderam ao questionário 113 formandos, dos quais 101 relataram que já atuam como médicos. Destes, 63,36% afirmaram que estão trabalhando diretamente no atendimento de casos de Covid-19. Sobre a importância da antecipação da outorga de grau, a maioria dos participantes concorda totalmente ou concorda, e apenas três participantes discordam totalmente. Mais da metade dos entrevistados não se sentem prejudicados com a antecipação da outorga de grau. Contudo, 43,3% acreditam que deixaram de adquirir informações importantes em sua formação. Por fim, quanto ao fato de trabalharem na pandemia, 79,6% consideram importante a atuação de médicos recém-formados no combate à Covid-19. Conclusão: Este estudo mostra que, a princípio, os esforços para a antecipação de formatura foram bem-sucedidos, já que os novos médicos estão contribuindo para aliviar a pressão imposta pela falta de profissionais e promover um melhor cuidado aos pacientes durante a pandemia.

Education in the Mais Médicos program: the gap between proposals and implementation / A dimensão da formação no Programa Mais Médicos: hiato entre propostas e implementação

Abstract: Introduction: The scarcity and inequalities in the geographical distribution of physicians challenge the consolidation of the right to health and create migratory flows that increase health inequities. Due to their complex and multidimensional characteristics, they demand multisectoral political approaches, considering several factors related to the availability and area of ​​practice of medical doctors, as well as the social vulnerability of local populations. Objective: This study aimed at analysing results of the "Mais Médicos" (More Doctors) Program Educational Axis in Brazil. Methodology: A documental research was conducted, highlighting the location and the public or private nature of new undergraduate medical school vacancies between the years 2013 until 2017, which were then compared to the goals and strategies outlined in the official Program documents. Results: The Educational Axis reached important milestones despite the resistance of some institutional actors. The Program extended its undergraduate vacancies by 7696 places, 22.48% of that in public institutions and 77.52% in private ones. Vacancy distribution prioritized cities in rural areas of Brazil, at the same instance bringing forward significant regulatory changes for undergraduate medical courses. However, political disputes with representatives of medical societies and stakeholders interested in favouring the private educational and healthcare sectors surface in the official discourses and documents. These factors weakened the program normative body, creating a hiatus between its core objectives and respective implementation. Evidence related to the concentration of vacancies in the Southeast regions allow the maintenance of a known unequal workforce distribution, despite a proportionally bigger increase in the Midwest, North and Northeast regions. Conclusion: The predominance of vacancies in private institutions and the weakening of the new undergraduate courses monitoring instruments can compromise changes in the graduate students' profiles, which are necessary for the fixation of physicians in strategic geographic areas to promote Primary Healthcare.

Resumo: Introdução: A carência e as desigualdades na distribuição geográfica de médicos desafiam a consolidação do direito à saúde e criam fluxos migratórios que acirram iniquidades em saúde. Devido ao seu caráter complexo e multidimensional, demandam abordagens políticas multissetoriais, considerando vários fatores relativos à disponibilidade e à área de atuação de médicos, bem como à vulnerabilidade social das populações consideradas. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar os resultados do eixo Formação do Programa Mais Médicos no Brasil. Métodos: Realizou-se uma pesquisa documental, especificamente relativa à localização e à natureza pública ou privada das novas vagas de graduação em Medicina, no período de 2013 a 2017, em que se confrontaram os resultados obtidos com as metas e estratégias pactuadas nos documentos oficiais do programa. Resultados: O eixo Formação alcançou resultados importantes, apesar da resistência de alguns atores institucionais. O programa expandiu em 7.696 vagas de graduação, sendo 22,48% em instituições públicas e 77,52% em instituições privadas. A distribuição das novas vagas priorizou cidades do interior do Brasil e aprovou mudanças regulatórias importantes para os cursos de Medicina. No entanto, as disputas políticas com atores sociais representativos da classe médica e aqueles interessados no favorecimento do setor privado na educação e assistência à saúde ficaram expressas nos discursos e documentos oficiais. Tais aspectos fragilizaram o corpo normativo do programa e criaram um hiato entre os seus objetivos e a implementação. Evidências referentes à concentração de vagas no Sudeste do país favorecem a manutenção das desigualdades, a despeito de um crescimento proporcionalmente maior nas Regiões Centro-Oeste, Nordeste e Norte. Conclusão: A prevalência de vagas em instituições privadas e a fragilização de instrumentos de monitoramento dos novos cursos podem comprometer a mudança no perfil dos egressos, necessária para a fixação de médicos em áreas estratégicas e na atenção primária à saúde.

Trends in Representation of Female Applicants and Matriculants in Canadian Residency Programs Across Specialties, 1995 to 2019.

Importance: Disparities in representation between sexes have been shown at multiple career stages in medicine despite increasing representation in the overall physician workforce. Objective: To assess sex representation of applicants to the Canadian R-1 entry match for postgraduate training programs from 1995 to 2019, comparing distribution between different specialties as well as applied vs matched applicants. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional analysis of aggregate data provided by the Canadian Resident Matching Service between 1995 and 2019 analyzed aggregate data for the Canadian R-1 residency match from 1995 through 2019. Exposures: Applicant sex as reported in the Canadian Resident Matching Service database. Main Outcomes and Measures: The sex representation of applicants was compared and the longitudinal trends in sex representation were analyzed by specialty between 1995 and 2019. The sex representation of overall applicants to the Canadian R-1 entry match were compared with matched applicants, and both were stratified by specialty. Results: A total of 48 424 applicants were identified (26 407 [54.5%] female applicants), of which 41 037 were matched applicants. Using specialty groupings, female applicants were most highly represented in obstetrics and gynecology (1776 of 2090 [85.0%]) and least represented in radiology (658 of 2055 [32.0%]). Within individual subspecialties, female applicants had the lowest representation in neurosurgery (90 of 394 [22.8%]). While female applicants represented an increasing proportion of the overall applicant population between 1995 and 2019 (z = 2.71; P = .007), significant increases were seen in some, but not all, individual specialties. Differences by sex were found among Canadian medical graduate match rates to their top-ranked specialty: female applicants had a lower likelihood of being rejected for family medicine (rejection of male applicants: OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.39-0.54; P < .001) and psychiatry (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.46-0.76; P < .001) and were more likely to be rejected for all-encompassing surgery (acceptance of male applicants: OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.10-1.28; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: Increasing representation of female residency applicants over time was seen in some, but not all, medical specialties in Canada, and sex-based differences in successful match rates were observed in some specialties. The reasons for these disparities require further investigation for corrective strategies to be identified.

Projected Estimates of African American Medical Graduates of Closed Historically Black Medical Schools.

Importance: There continue to be low numbers of underrepresented minorities, including African Americans, in academic medicine. Historically Black medical colleges and universities are major sources of training for medical school graduates who are African American or who belong to other underrepresented minority groups. Several historically Black medical schools were closed during the period surrounding the 1910 Flexner report. The implications of these school closures with regard to the number of African American medical school graduates have not been fully examined. Objective: To examine the consequences associated with the closure of historically Black medical schools for the number of African American medical school graduates. Design, Setting, and Participants: This observational economic evaluation used steady expansion and rapid expansion models to estimate the consequences associated with the closure of historically Black medical schools for the number of African American medical school graduates. The numbers of graduates from 13 historically Black medical schools that are now closed were obtained through historical records. Data on historically Black medical schools that are currently open were obtained from school-specific reports and reports published by the Association of American Medical Colleges. The study focused on projected estimates of outcomes from the hypothetical continued operation and expansion of 5 closed historically Black medical schools that were included in the Flexner report: Flint Medical College of New Orleans University, Knoxville Medical College, Leonard Medical School of Shaw University, Louisville National Medical College, and the University of West Tennessee College of Medicine and Surgery-Memphis. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was the estimate of the number of African American students who would have graduated from historically Black medical schools that were closed during the period surrounding the 1910 Flexner report. Results: Among the 5 historically Black medical schools that were closed, the estimated mean number of graduates per year was 5.27 students at Flint Medical College, 2.60 students at Knoxville Medical College, 11.06 students at Leonard Medical School, 4.17 students at Louisville National Medical College, and 6.74 students at the University of West Tennessee. If the 5 closed historically Black medical schools had remained open, the steady expansion and rapid expansion models indicated that these schools might have collectively provided training to an additional 27 773 graduates and 35 315 graduates, respectively, between their year of closure and 2019. In the analysis of Leonard Medical School and the University of West Tennessee only, the steady expansion and rapid expansion models indicated that these 2 schools would have provided training to an additional 10 587 graduates and 13 403 graduates, respectively, between their year of closure and 2019. An extrapolation based on the racial and ethnic self-identification of current graduates of historically Black medical schools indicated that if these closed schools had remained open, the number of graduating African American physicians might have increased by 355 individuals (29%) in 2019 alone. Conclusions and Relevance: To increase the number of African American medical school graduates, consideration should be given to creating medical education programs at historically Black colleges and universities. Such programs may start with small enrollment but could have positive consequences for the diversity of the physician workforce.

New physician specialty training system impact on distribution of trainees in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: The problem of uneven distribution of medical services and inequitable distribution of physicians is drawing much attention worldwide. Revealing how changes in the specialty training system in Japan have affected the distribution of doctors could help us understand this problem. In 2018, a new and standardized specialty training system was implemented by the Japanese Medical Specialty Board, which is recognized by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The purpose of this study was to investigate how this new system has affected the geographical distribution of doctors commencing specialty training (trainees) and choice of specialty in Japan. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. METHODS: The change in the number of trainees between the control period (2012-2014) and 2018 was investigated, taking into account the prefecture and specialty selected. Population, the proportion of residents aged 65 years or older (aging rate), and the total number of overall doctors in each prefecture were considered as the background characteristics of each prefecture. We created a Lorenz curve and calculated the Gini coefficient for the distribution of trainees. RESULTS: In 2018, the number of trainees per 100,000 population increased to 6.6 nationwide compared with 5.5 during the control period. The number of trainees per 100,000 population in 2018 increased in prefectures with a large population of ≧ 2,000,000, a low aging rate (<27%), and a high doctor density (≧ 250 doctors per 100,000 population). The Gini coefficient showed an increase to 0.226 in 2018 compared with only 0.160 during the control period. CONCLUSIONS: After the implementation of the new training system, there was an increase in the number of doctors enrolling in specialty programs, and the specialties other than internal medicine and surgery have attracted more trainees. Inequality in the distribution of doctors between urban and rural prefectures worsened. This indicates the need to explore new ways of balancing distribution while maintaining optimal opportunities for specialist training.

More Doctors Program: health work process and socioeconomic indicators

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE To analyze the working process of the professionals of the More Doctors Program and its relationship with socioeconomic indicators. It is a quantitative study, in which secondary data from supervision reports of PMM were used. The dependent variable was the quality of work processes in Primary Care facilities, and the independent ones were the type of municipality, education, Gini index, Primary Health Care investments, and health facilities coverage. Data were analyzed with multiple modeling based on Poisson regression with robust variance. RESULTS 16,000 doctors within 3816 municipalities were analyzed. Variables related to the working process the remained significant in the final model were the investments in Primary Health Care and the health facilities coverage. The results expressed the equity principle, as those municipalities with more vulnerable conditions and with higher coverage are prone to perform more activities in their working process. CONCLUSIONS The implementation of the More Doctors Program and hence the provision of doctors in deprived regions promoted the consolidation of three main aspects, namely the health working process, primary health care and equity, making it possible to carry out a health working process focused on PHC. This implies performing a greater number of activities that are inherent to PHC, which were not carried out due to the absence of doctors. The More Doctors Program fulfills its role in the combat of inequalities, particularly regarding more vulnerable municipalities.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Analisar a relação entre o processo de trabalho dos médicos do Programa Mais Médicos (PMM) no Brasil e alguns indicadores socioeconômicos no período de 2015. MÉTODO Trata-se de uma pesquisa quantitativa que utilizou dados secundários dos relatórios de supervisão do PMM. A variável dependente foi a qualidade do processo de trabalho e as variáveis independentes foram o tipo de município, expectativa de anos de estudo, índice de Gini, investimento em Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) e cobertura de unidades de saúde. Na análise dos dados foi realizada a modelagem múltipla por regressão de Poisson com variância robusta. RESULTADOS Foram analisados dados de 3.816 municípios, abrangendo 1.537 profissionais. Destacam-se como variáveis socioeconômicas estratégicas e que explicam o modelo do processo de trabalho do PMM: o investimento e a cobertura da atenção básica. Tornou-se bastante evidente o princípio da equidade, pois os municípios mais vulneráveis e de maior cobertura realizam maior número de atividades em seu processo de trabalho. CONCLUSÕES Com a implantação do PMM e o provimento de médicos em regiões desassistidas ocorreu a consolidação do tripé processo de trabalho em saúde, atenção básica e equidade, tornando possível a efetivação de um processo de trabalho focado na APS. Isso implica a realização de maior número de atividades inerentes à APS, as quais não eram realizadas em função da ausência do profissional médico. Nesse sentido, o programa cumpre o seu papel de combater as desigualdades em municípios mais vulneráveis.

Características del servicio social para profesionales médicos en los estados andinos / Characteristics of compulsory service programs for medical professionals in the Andean states

INTRODUCCIÓN: Se ha estudiado poco sobre el impacto de los programas de servicio social en salud en el desarrollo profesional de médicos de los Estados Andinos (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú y Venezuela), programas cuya finalidad es incrementar los recursos humanos en salud en zonas rurales y remotas. OBJETIVO: Describir la normativa de los programas de servicio social para profesionales médicos de los Estados Andinos. MÉTODOS: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de documentos normativos concernientes al servicio social para profesionales médicos en sitios web de gobiernos de los Estados Andinos, con la finalidad de obtener información la condición de servicio, financiamiento del programa/remuneraciones y modos de adjudicación. Adicionalmente, se empleó el motor de búsqueda PubMed para complementar la información sobre servicios sociales obligatorios en estos países. RESULTADOS: El servicio social para profesionales médicos está establecido bajo un marco normativo en todos los Estados Andinos, a excepción de Argentina, donde no existe este programa. Los participantes perciben una remuneración, salvo en Bolivia, donde el servicio es realizado por estudiantes. Los sistemas de adjudicación para estos programas son heterogéneos, siendo que en algunos Estados Andinos existe asignación de plazas según criterios meritocráticos. La participación en programas sociales en salud condiciona el ejercicio profesional (Ecuador, Colombia y Venezuela) y el poder realizar una especialización (Chile y Perú). CONCLUSIONES: Se requiere estudiar del impacto de estos programas en el desarrollo profesional del participante, con el objetivo de implementar estrategias de mejora adecuadas a sus contextos particulares.

INTRODUCTION: There are few studies on the impact of social service programs on health in the professional development of doctors in the Andean States (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela). The purpose of these programs is to increase the availability of human resources in health in rural and remote areas. OBJECTIVE: To describe the regulations of social service programs for medical professionals in the Andean countries. METHODS: We carried out a bibliographic review of normative documents concerning the social service for medical professionals using websites of governments of the Andean States as data sources. We sought to obtain information regarding service conditions, funding of these programs­including remunerations, and means of program allocation. Additionally, we used PubMed/MEDLINE to find complementary information on mandatory social services in these countries. RESULTS: Social service for medical professionals is established under a regulatory framework in all the Andean countries, except for Argentina, where this program does not exist. Participants receive remuneration (except in Bolivia, where students perform the service). The allocation systems used for these programs are heterogeneous, and in some Andean countries, the allocation is merit-based. Participation in social programs influences later professional opportunities (Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela) and the ability to specialize (Chile and Peru). CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to study the impact of these programs on the professional development of the participants to design and implement quality improvement strategies tailored to each context.

Programa Médicos pelo Brasil: mérito e equidade / Médicos pelo Brasil Program: merit and equity / Programa Médicos pelo Brasil: mérito y equidad

O Programa Médicos pelo Brasil (PMPB) foi lançado em 2019 pelo Ministério da Saúde com objetivo de ampliar a oferta de serviços médicos em locais de difícil provimento ou alta vulnerabilidade. As principais mudanças propostas no PMPB são: obrigatoriedade de registro no Conselho Federal de Medicina; alocação de vagas com prioridade para as pequenas e distantes cidades, contratação dos profissionais via CLT e formação qualificada em Medicina de Família e Comunidade (MFC), permitindo a titulação dos médicos após dois anos. Com essas mudanças, espera-se um aprofundamento na interiorização dos profissionais, com possibilidade efetiva de fixação, além da formação em larga escala de MFCs. A formação através da residência também será impulsionada, com incentivo financeiro municipal para esse fim, em consonância com as ações do novo financiamento federal da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS), o Programa Previne Brasil. O PMPB será executado pela Agência para o Desenvolvimento da Atenção Primária à Saúde (Adaps), um modelo inovador de gestão pública, que trará eficiência ao programa. Com essas características, o PMPB pretende oferecer um solução perene para a oferta de serviços médicos no âmbito da APS do Sistema Único de Saúde.

The Médicos pelo Brasil Program (PMPB) was launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Health with the objective to expand the supply of medical services in places of difficult provision or high vulnerability. The main changes proposed in the PMPB are: mandatory registration with the Federal Council of Medicine; allocation of vacancies with priority for small and distant cities, hiring of professionals via national labor legislation and qualified training in Family Medicine (FM), allowing the doctor's speciality certification after two years. With these changes, it is expected to deepen the internalization of professionals, with effective possibility of fixation, in addition to training in scale in FM. Training through residency will also be promoted, with municipal financial incentives for this purpose, aligned with the actions of the new federal financing of Primary Health Care (PHC), the Previne Brasil Program. The PMPB will be executed by the Agency for the Development of Primary Health Care (Adaps), an innovative management model that will bring efficiency to the program. With these characteristics, the PMPB intends to offer a solution for the provision of medical services within the PHC of the Brazilian Public Health System

El Programa de Médicos pelo Brasil (PMPB) fue lanzado en 2019 por el Ministerio de Salud con el bjetivo expandir la oferta de servicios médicos en lugares de difícil provisión o alta vulnerabilidad. Los rincipales cambios propuestos en el PMPB son: registro obligatorio en el Consejo Federal de Medicina; designación de vacantes con prioridad para ciudades pequeñas y distantes, contratación de profesionales a través de las leyes laborales nacionales y capacitación calificada en medicina familiar y comunitaria (MFC), lo que permite la certificación de especialidad después de dos años. Con estos cambios, se espera profundizar la internalización de profesionales, con posibilidad efectiva de fijación, además de capacitación a gran escala de los MFC. La capacitación a través de la residencia también será promovida, con incentivos financieros municipales para este propósito, en línea con las acciones del nuevo financiamiento federal de Atención Primaria de Salud (APS), el Programa Previne Brasil. El PMPB será ejecutado por la Agencia para el desarrollo de la atención primaria de salud (Adaps), un modelo de gestión innovador. Eso traerá eficiencia al programa. Con estas características, el PMPB pretende ofrecer un solución perenne para la prestación de servicios médicos dentro de la APS del Sistema Único de Salud.

The effect of malpractice law on physician supply: Evidence from negligence-standard reforms.

We explore whether the composition of the physician workforce is impacted by the clinical standards imposed on physicians under medical liability rules. Specifically, we explore whether the proportion of non-surgeons practicing in a region decreases-and thus whether the proportion of surgeons increases-when liability standards are modified so as to expect that physicians practice more intensively. For these purposes, we draw on a quasi-experiment made possible by states shifting from local to national customs as the basis for setting liability standards. Using data from the Area Health Resource File from 1977 to 2005, we find that the rate of non-surgeons among practicing physicians decreases by 2-2.4 log points (or by 1.4-1.7 percentage points) following the adoption of national-standard laws in initially low surgery-rate regions-i.e., following a change in the law that effectively expects physicians to increase their use of surgical approaches.

Envisioning a Better U.S. Health Care System for All: Reducing Barriers to Care and Addressing Social Determinants of Health.

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has long advocated for universal access to high-quality health care in the United States. Yet, it is essential that the U.S. health system goes beyond ensuring coverage, efficient delivery systems, and affordability. Reductions in nonfinancial barriers to care and improvements in social determinants of health are also necessary. This ACP position paper calls for ending discrimination based on personal characteristics; correcting workforce shortages, including the undersupply of primary care physicians; and understanding and ameliorating social determinants of health. The ACP calls for increased efforts to address urgent public health threats, including injuries and deaths from firearms; environmental hazards; climate change; maternal mortality; substance use disorders; and the health risks associated with nicotine, tobacco use, and electronic nicotine delivery systems in order to achieve ACP's vision for a better U.S. health care system.

Associations between area-level deprivation, rural residence, physician density, screening policy and late-stage colorectal cancer in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Important social disparities in colorectal screening exist in Canada. Few studies have assessed disparities further along the cancer control continuum. Here we assess the associations between social and material deprivation, physician density, rural residence, and the absence of provincial mail-based screening programs and colorectal cancer (CRC) stage at diagnosis. METHODS: Colorectal cancer cases and stage data ("local or regional" if stage 0, I, or II, "late" if stage III or IV) were obtained through the Canadian Cancer Registry (2011-2015, N = 54,745). Cases were linked to 2006 Canadian Census Dissemination Area-level data on rural/urban status, exposure to a provincial mail-based screening program, and social and material deprivation (Pampalon Index quintile groups); and to Scott's Medical Database 2011 physician density data (<7 vs. ≥ 7/10,000). Age, sex, and predictor-adjusted Generalized estimating equation (GEE) Poisson models were used to determine independent associations between predictors and late-stage at diagnosis. RESULTS: Half of CRC cases are diagnosed at stage III or IV (51 %), with younger age groups experiencing higher late-stage prevalence (57 % among those aged 18-49). The covariate-adjusted late-stage prevalence was 2-percentage points higher in most materially- and socially-deprived areas (95 % CI: 1 %, 4 %, in both, respectively) and in provinces with no mail-based screening programs (95 % CI: 1 %, 2 %). No significant differences were observed according to rural residence or physician density. CONCLUSIONS: Social disparities in late-stage CRC diagnosis are modest. Continued surveillance of these disparities may be warranted as provinces continue to promote early cancer detection through screening, and stage distributions may change overtime.