[Analysis of the investigation activity of the internist from the Public Bid of Employment in Galicia].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to assess the investigative activity of the internists. Data were collected from the Public Bid of Employment (PBE) performed in Galicia in 2005, and compared with the rest of medical subspecialities.


METHODS
The results from the PBE related to internal medicine and medical subspecialities are available in the web page of the Galician Service of Health. The following data were studied: speciality, sex, method of attainment of the specialist degree, thesis, and scores obtained in Galician language exam, professional experience, professional report, postgraduate teaching and published scientific papers.


RESULTS
Data from 355 specialists were analyzed: 118 (33.2%) were internists, and 237 (66.8%) were medical subspecialists. There were no differences between internal medicine and the rest of subspecialities in terms of sex, method of attainment of the specialist degree, thesis, and scores obtained in Galician language exam, professional experience and postgraduate teaching. Internists presented fewer scientific papers than subspecialists, even when they were classified according to different levels of professional experience. Degrees obtained by the MIR system were associated with more publications (p < 0.001). The attainment of the job was associated to scores obtained in the professional report, professional experience, and published scientific papers (p < 0.001). The obtaining of the job was associated to the accomplishment of the doctoral thesis in the university teaching hospitals (A Coruña, Santiago y Vigo, p < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
The investigative activity of the internists in Galicia is inferior to the rest of the medical subspecialists. It seems necessary to stimulate the internists to developing scientific investigation and to improve those skills of the internal medicine residents.
Rabuñal Rey
R
R
servicio de Medicina Interna, Complexo Hospitalario Xeral-Calde, Lugo. Ramon.Rabunal.Rey@sergas.es
Monte Secades
R
R
Paz Fuentes
F
F
Bal Alvaredo
M
M
López López
S
S
Arias Núñez
C
C
Guerrero Lombardía
J
J
D004212:Academic Dissertations as Topic; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011643:Publishing; D013030:Spain; D013038:Specialization; D013663:Teaching; D014956:Writing