Family and Community Medicine in the degree of Medicine in Spanish universities: analysis of the current situation

• Published in: Semergen, medicina de familia Vol. 51; no. 4; p. 102437
• Main Authors: Jiménez-Martínez, E, Fernández-Ramos, A, Cinza-Sanjurjo, S, Martín-Sánchez, V, Barquilla-García, A, Micó-Pérez, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.05.2025
• Subjects: Community Medicine - education; Cross-Sectional Studies; Curriculum; Education, Medical; Family Practice - education; Humans; Internship and Residency; Schools, Medical - organization & administration; Schools, Medical - statistics & numerical data; Spain; Universities - statistics & numerical data; Spain; Spanish Universities; Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria; Family and Community Medicine; Medical Schools; Facultades de Medicina; Grados en Medicina; Degrees in Medicine; Universidades españolas
• ISSN: 1578-8865; 1578-8865
• DOI: 10.1016/j.semerg.2024.102437

To analyse the specific training in Family and Community Medicine (FCM) that is taught in the medical degrees in Spain. Descriptive and cross-sectional study based on the content analysis of the study programs and teaching guides based on the official information that universities offer on their study programs and teaching guides for the 2023-2024 academic year. The specific FCM subjects, the number of credits, their theoretical-practical nature and the clinical rotations were identified. The universities were classified according to their training offer in FCM, both theoretical and practical, and as a whole. There are 49 Spanish universities with a degree in Medicine, 35 public and 14 private. Of these, 40 degrees include some theoretical-practical subject with content on FCM, 27 of which with some specific subject on FCM and 13 degrees with more general subjects in which other specialties are also addressed. On the other hand, 44 degrees have clinical rotations or supervised internships that include MF&C, 21 of which are specific to MF&C and 23 general courses that include several specialties. In the overall classification, 7 universities would be at the level corresponding to the degrees in which there is sufficient training in theory and practice of MF 33 would be at an intermediate level, with some training in MF&C in one of the two types of subjects considered, and 9 universities would be at the bottom level, with deficiencies both at the level of theoretical-practical subjects and clinical rotations. The presence of MF&C in the degrees of Medicine of Spanish universities has been increasing in recent years, but it is still insufficient. There is a great variability between universities, but at a general level there is a significant lack of theoretical-practical subjects specific to MF&C and specific clinical rotations in Primary Care or with sufficient credits.