[Medical student traits associated with future success as physicians]. / Características del estudiante de medicina asociadas al éxito ulterior como médico.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the individual and family factors present during medical studies which are associated to success as a physician. RESEARCH DESIGN: Prolective case-control study. SETTING: Mexico City metropolitan area. STUDY UNITS: 120 physicians considered to be successful and 245 physicians who according to an established criteria were considered to be non-successful. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: A success-achieving index was constructed on the opinion of 134 physicians from different health-care institutions private and public. The index was composed by criteria such as being a member of prestiged academic associations; having a practice in third level institutions; having done postgraduate studies; being a professor with teaching and research activities; having obtained directive medical positions; and a high income at the moment of the interview. RESULTS: The main factors associated to success were: frequent attendance to cultural activities by the family of the subjects (OR = 5.2, IC 95% = 3.15-8.60, p = 0.00000001); the global score obtained during their medical studies, i.e. higher than 8.5 over 10 (OR = 4.43, IC 95% = 2.64-7.49, p = 0.00000001); and having been awarded recognitions, prizes or scholarships during their medical studies (OR = 4.3, IC 95% = 2.64-7.03, p = 0.00000001). A logistic regression model selected the cultural activities of the family, global score during medical studies and earning of recognitions, prizes and scholarships as independent variables associated to success achievement (p = 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: Frequent cultural activities by the family and academic behavior were the factors present during medical studies which were associated to ulterior success as a physician.