title: Reasons related to the choice of critical care medicine as a specialty by medical residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Critical Care Medicine is a relatively new specialty, which in recent years has made significant progress in Brazil. However, few physicians are willing to acquire this specialization. The main objective of this study was to describe the factors associated with choice of Critical Care Medicine as a specialty by medical residents of Salvador-BA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional and descriptive study, in which a questionnaire was submitted to all residents of the specialties that are a prerequisite for Critical Care Medicine (Clinical Medicine, General Surgery and Anesthesiology), between October and December 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 165 residents (89.7% of the total), in which 51.5% were clinical medicine residents, 25.5% were general surgery residents, and 23.0% were anesthesiology residents. Of the respondents, 14 (9.1%) intended to enter Critical Care Medicine residency, although 90 (54.5%) were willing to become intensive care unit physicians after their regular residency. The main reason stated to specialize in critical care medicine was to like work with critically ill patients (92.9%). The main reasons stated not to specialize in critical care medicine, however were related with the poorer quality of life and work. Residents who did intensive care unit initernship during medical studies were more likely to work in an intensive care units after residency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This population showed little interest to specialize in critical care medicine. The main reasons given for this limited interest were factors related to quality of life and intensive care unit environment. A national survey is required to identify the interventions needed to favor this specialization.
authors.affiliation: Liga Acadêmica de Medicina Intensiva da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Flávia Branco Cerqueira Serra
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: Liga Acadêmica de Medicina Intensiva da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Sena Pinheiro de Gouvêa
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Liga Acadêmica de Medicina Intensiva da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Elaine Andrade
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Cravo
authors.affiliation: Liga Acadêmica de Medicina Intensiva da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Talita da Silva
authors.initials: Tda S
authors.lastname: Portugal
authors.affiliation: Liga Acadêmica de Medicina Intensiva da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Míli Freire
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Liga Acadêmica de Medicina Intensiva da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Israel Soares Pompeu de Sousa
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Brasil
authors.affiliation: Liga Acadêmica de Medicina Intensiva da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Almir Galvão Vieira
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bitencourt
authors.affiliation: Liga Acadêmica de Medicina Intensiva da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Gilson Soares
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Feitosa-Filho