Internal medicine post-graduate training profile in Colombia

Research carried out by the Education Committee (2004-2006) of the Colombian Association of Internal Medicine

Abstract

Objective: determining the training profile of the Internal Medicine residents in Colombia.

Method: cross sectional descriptive trial, developed according to surveys about the post-graduate programs in Internal Medicine active up to 2005.

Results: 17 out of 21 of those participating in active programs answered the survey. The time of the post-graduate program in Internal Medicine is three years. The internist to be trained should be a physician with a holistic vision, with an excellent scientific background with profound respect for the patient and the patient"(TM)s family. 69% of his (or her) activity is dedicated to the patients admitted in the hospital and 31% to day care patients. Specialties such as cardiology, pneumology, nephrology, neurology, endocrinology, rheumatology and gastroenterology are obligatory in 100% of the programs, whereas dermatology, oncology and geriatrics are only for 71%, 43% and 29% respectively. Between 2002 and 2005, 203 internist physicians graduated in the program. Around 50% of them practice internal medicine today, while 45% have chosen a sub-specialty. Until 2005 approximately 1942 internists have been graduated in Colombia.

Conclusions: the Internal Medicine post graduate program"(TM)s architecture in Colombia is the traditional one and in the majority of cases is carried out at the patient"(TM)s bedside, with the additional support of complementary thematic revisions. As gaps are identified the low involvement of the teachers with the university payroll, the lack of pedagogic training of the same, and the poor training of residents in palliative, geriatrics and oncology care, among others. There are some general recommendations to improve the programs and the relationship with the ACMI. (Colombian Association of Internal Medicine).