title: [Distribution of pulmonologists and chest surgeons in Spain].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the real situation of respiratory medicine specialists and chest surgeons in the Spanish health service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the database of the secretary of the Spanish Society of Respiratory Medicine and Chest Surgery (SEPAR) for 1999, we gathered data on 326 Spanish hospitals. We were thus able to ascertain the level of staffing of respiratory medicine and chest surgery departments. The results were expressed as simple percentages showing distribution by age, duties and geographic area. The number of specialists per 100,000 inhabitants in each community was also calculated based on population data provided by the National Statistics Institute for 1997.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 1,786 physicians or surgeons (1,245 pneumologists, 185 surgeons and 356 from other specialties). The mean age was 41 9 years for pneumologists, 44 10 years for surgeons and 51 8 years for the others. We observed unequal distribution by geographic area, with a high of 6.66 pneumologists and 0.9 surgeons per 100,000 inhabitants in Asturias and Madrid, respectively and a low of 1.4 pneumologists per 100,000 inhabitants in Murcia and 0 surgeons in Extremadura.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specialist coverage by pneumologists and chest surgeons is inadequate in many provinces and communities in Spain. The professional market is not saturated, indicating that future specialists can look forward to market demand.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Soto Campos
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Alvarez Gutiérrez
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abad Cabaco
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carboneros de la Fuente
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Durán Cantolla
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Freixenet Gilart
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lamela López
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Márquez Pérez
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Montemayor Rubio
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Macián Gisbert
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pino García
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine; D013030:Spain; D013903:Thoracic Surgery; D000078329:Workforce