Measuring student satisfaction as the first assessment of the Program of Combined Studies in Medicine, an MD/PhD-like program of the Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico.

BACKGROUND: The Program of Combined Studies in Medicine (PECEM, by its acronym in Spanish) is a program for simultaneous bachelor and doctorate studies (MD/PhD) that enrolls students who show academic excellence and interest in scientific research. The initial doctoral training comprises seven six-month research stays in different laboratories or clinical or computer areas with different high-quality scientific advisors who provide students with a unique experience for their scientific training. Therefore, satisfaction in this stage is decisive for students' performance and physical and psychological health. The aim of the present study was to administer a questionnaire to measure students' satisfaction with their research experience as a service-product bundle. METHODS: Students answered an online questionnaire that evaluated three dimensions: perceived quality of the advisor, skills development, and infrastructure and support. Several satisfiers were also evaluated: recommendation of the advisor to peers, fulfillment of student expectations and satisfaction with the program. Correlations were calculated using Fisher's exact test. The significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The high quality of the advisor, skills development and guidance during the stay were satisfiers correlated to the students' recommendation of their advisors to their peers and to the fulfillment of the students' scientific expectations. Conversely, skills development and infrastructure and support were satisfiers for a good to excellent experience as a PECEM student. A lack of direct interaction with the advisor's workgroup was related to dissatisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The nontangible products of the service, such as a positive interaction between the student, the advisor and the advisor's workgroup as well as support obtained during the research stay, were satisfiers. These data indicate that promoting a fruitful bond between the student and advisor is a priority to ensure the quality of our innovative MD/PhD program.

Burnout en estudiantes del Plan de Estudios Combinados en Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México / Burnout in students of the Program of Combined Studies in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico

Introducción: El Plan de Estudios Combinados en Medicina está diseñado para que alumnos sobresalientes que cursan la carrera de medicina estudien el doctorado simultáneamente. Las exigencias para culminar el posgrado involucran situaciones de estrés que podrían llevar al desgaste. El burnout es un síndrome con tres dimensiones: agotamiento emocional, cinismo e ineficacia, que pueden disminuir las expectativas de éxito, satisfacción y rendimiento académico. Objetivo: Determinar la frecuencia de burnout y sus dimensiones en estudiantes de seis generaciones del programa, así como su correlación con características sociodemográficas, académicas y hábitos. Sujetos y métodos: Los alumnos respondieron voluntariamente un cuestionario autoaplicado y el Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey. Se calculó la prevalencia de las dimensiones del burnout y se correlacionaron con variables evaluadas en el cuestionario usando la prueba exacta de Fisher. Resultados: Los 56 participantes no presentaron burnout y un 61% tampoco las dimensiones del síndrome. Solas o combinadas, un 27% mostró ineficacia; un 11%, cinismo, y un 7%, agotamiento. La prevalencia de dos dimensiones fue del 5%. Se encontraron diferencias significativas (p < 0,05) para la relación con el grupo, tocar un instrumento, cantar o actuar, sitio de residencia y la violencia en el traslado. Conclusiones: La ausencia de burnout en los participantes posiblemente refleja satisfacción y compromiso académico. La pésima relación con compañeros y la violencia en el traslado son frecuentes en alumnos con agotamiento. Es posible que tocar un instrumento, cantar o actuar constituya una respuesta al agotamiento y al cinismo, así como otras estrategias de afrontamiento no exploradas en este estudio

Introduction: Combined Studies in Medicine is a program in which outstanding students pursue a career in Medicine and simultaneously a doctorate. The requirements to complete the graduate course involve stress situations that could lead to burnout. Burnout is a syndrome with three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, cynicism and inefficiency, which can diminish the expectations of success, satisfaction and academic performance. Aim: To determine the frequency of burnout and its dimensions in students of six generations of the program as well as its correlation with habits, sociodemographic and academic characteristics. Subjects and methods: Students voluntarily answered a self-applied questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout InventoryStudent Survey. The prevalence of the dimensions and burnout were calculated and were correlated with variables evaluated in the questionnaire using the Fisher's exact test. Results: The 56 participants were negative to burnout and 61% to the dimensions; 27% had inefficiency, 11% cynicism and 7% exhaustion, combined or alone. The prevalence of two dimensions was 5%. Significant differences were found (p < 0.05) for the relationship with colleagues, playing instruments, singing/acting, place of residence and violence on the way to the stay. Conclusions: The absence of burnout in the participants possibly reflects satisfaction and academic commitment. The bad relationship with colleagues and the violence on their way to the stay are frequent in students with exhaustion. It is possible that playing instruments, singing or acting was a response to exhaustion and cynicism, as well as other coping strategies not explored in this study