Expectativas y realización profesional en Cirugía General y subespecialidades quirúrgicas: situación actual de los cirujanos jóvenes en Córdoba / Expectations and professional fulfillment in general surgery and surgical sub-specialties: current situation of young surgeons in Cordoba

RESUMEN Antecedentes: en la Argentina, la especialidad Cirugía General se encuentra en crisis y esta situación alarmante se halla vinculada a las malas condiciones laborales del cirujano general. Objetivo: describir la percepción que el cirujano joven tiene al terminar su programa de formación, en relación con su perspectiva laboral, actividad quirúrgica y académica. Material y métodos: estudio transversal basado en una encuesta dirigida a cirujanos jóvenes en Córdoba, Argentina. Resultados: participaron 53 encuestados. El 58% eran hombres y la mediana de edad fue 32 años. El 72% ejercía Cirugía General y el 55% trabajaba en el sector privado. El 34% pertenecía a la Asociación de Cirugía de Córdoba y el 23% a la Asociación Argentina de Cirugía. En cuanto a la experiencia profesional, el 53,1% eran cirujanos junior y el 64% eran competentes para realizar procedimientos de baja o mediana complejidad. En relación con la perspectiva laboral, el 89% consideró que el cirujano joven no consigue salida laboral rápida y el 96,2% refirió que sus prácticas no eran bien remuneradas. Respecto de la calidad de vida personal y laboral, el 57% manifestó frustración e incertidumbre económica. En cuanto a las cirujanas, la tasa de inequidades de género y hostigamiento sexual en el ámbito laboral fue del 73% y 50%, respectivamente. Conclusión: encontramos la percepción de un bajo nivel de competencia para las cirugías de mayor complejidad y una baja tasa de adherencia a sociedades quirúrgicas. Debido a la escasa oferta laboral existe gran frustración e incertidumbre económica. Actualmente, predomina y persiste el maltrato y hostigamiento hacia las cirujanas.

ABSTRACT Background: In Argentina, the specialty of general surgery is in crisis, and this alarming situation is associated with the poor working conditions of general surgeons. Objective: The aim of this study is to describe the perception of young surgeons at the end of their training program, in relation to their job prospects, surgical and academic activity. Material and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on a survey responded by young surgeons in Cordoba, Argentina. Results: The survey was responded by 53 young surgeons; 58% were men and median age was 32 years. Seventy-two percent practiced general surgery and 55% worked in the private setting. Thirtyfour percent were members of Asociación de Cirugía de Córdoba and 23% belonged to Asociación Argentina de Cirugía. As for professional experience, 53.1% were junior surgeons and 64% were capable of performing low or medium complexity procedures. Eighty-nine percent considered that young surgeons do not get a job quickly and 96.2% reported that they were not well paid for their practice. When asked about their personal and professional quality of life, 57% expressed frustration and economic uncertainty. Among women surgeons, 73% reported gender inequities and 50% reported sexual harassment in the workplace. Conclusion: Young surgeons perceived they had low level of competencies for high complexity surgical procedures and reported low rate of membership in surgical societies. Most of them feel frustrated due to scarce job opportunities and expressed economic uncertainty. Nowadays, abuse and harassment of women surgeons still prevails and persists.

Estudio TAMARA II. Tabaquismo en médicos de la República Argentina II / The tamara ii trial. smoking among physicians in argentina

background: Smoking is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and death. It is important to know the characteristics of smoking habits among physicians and their attitude toward patients who smoke. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of smoking among physicians in Argentina, the factors associated with tobacco consumption and their attitude toward their patients who smoke. Methods: An observational cross- sectional study was performed between June and December 2013 in Argentine physicians of dif-ferent specialties. Using a structured survey, the following variables were analyzed: associated cardiovascular risk factors, charac-teristics of tobacco consumption, smoking cessation training and the attitude toward the patient who smokes. results: 3,033 physicians were surveyed, ; 57% were men, and mean age was 41.3±12 years; 19.7% were current smokers and 21.7% were former smokers. The probability of being a smoker was higher among surgeons (OR 1.29) or physicians working at the emergency room (OR 1.41). Undergraduate and postgraduate tobacco cessation training was achieved by 36.6% and 40.8% of physicians, respectively. Young physicians, clinical specialties or private practice were associated with higher level of training. Tobacco cessation counseling was more frequent in physicians with higher level of training than physicians who smoked or surgeons. Former smokers presented higher prevalence of risk factors and cardiovascular events. Family history of smoking habit was more common in former smokers and current smokers. Conclusions: The prevalence of smoking among Argentine physicians is high. Different factors are involved in the probability of smoking, tobacco cessation training or the possibility of medical counseling. Higher level of training in smoking cessation must be provided.