title: Family physicians in Switzerland: transition from residency to family practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study is concerned with family physicians in the transition phase from residency to practice. Factors relating to the decision to take up a career in family medicine rather than a different medical career are investigated. Further, incentives and disincentives for starting a family practice as well as factors influencing the decision about practice location and practice model are addressed.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective cohort study on physicians' career development, 88 family physicians and 437 physicians aspiring to a different medical career participated in a questionnaire survey on the reasons for their choice of specialty and career, their mentoring support, and their work-life balance aspirations. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using hierarchical logistic regression and content analysis, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Family physician tutors should actively approach trainees in medical school and residency, pointing out the advantages of family medicine in terms of continuity of patient contact and the wide range of illnesses and patients, as well as the prospect of a work-life balance tailored to personal needs. Unlike other countries, Switzerland started its structured residency-training programs only recently.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Education, Zurich University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. bara.buddeberg@usz.ch
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Buddeberg-Fischer
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klaghofer
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stamm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D011446:Prospective Studies; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D013997:Time Factors