Ana Carolina Musser Tavares de Mattos

Influence of a scientific initiation programme on scientific output of professors on a medical course in Brazil

BACKGROUND Scientific Initiation Programmes (SIP) are now considered increasingly important in medical courses, and are now being introduced in many medical courses. The School of Medicine at Universidade Federal Fluminense pioneered on optional SIP in 1995. This study aims to compare scientific output of professors who engaged in SIP disciplines (SIP group) with that of professors who did not (non-SIP group). METHODS Data on the scientific output of both groups was collected from a period that began 4 years before and ended 4 years after the SIPs inception. The average number of papers published or presented in me di cal meetings in both groups was compared. RESULTS The scientific output of the SIP group was larger than that of the non SIP group (p = 0.0017), except for M.Sc. professors (p = 0.8362). This result did not change when the scientific production of Ph.D. professors was analysed according to the periods before (p = 0.0003) and after (p = 0.0001) SIPs inception. Scientific output of M.Sc. professors of both group were similar in both periods, i.e., before (p = 1.0) and after (p = 0.67) SIPs inception. When scientific output in the periods before and after SIPs inception is compared, it was found that it increased in both groups, SIP (p = 0.0001) and non SIP (p = 0.0086) alike. CONCLUSIONS After the inception of SIP, all professors had an increase in their scientific output; however, this occurred independently of their engagement in SIP disciplines.

Influência de um programa de iniciação científica de graduação no perfil profissional dos médicos recém-formados

INTRODUCTION This paper studies the influence of a Scientific Initiation Programme (SIP) on the professional profile of new doctors from a Brazilian university. AIM AND METHODS Evaluate fifty-two new doctors divided into two groups matched by sex, age and academic performance and differing only in participation in the SIP. Professional and socioeconomic data were collected, including schooling of parents; average income before, during and after the medical course; current professional situation; results of exams for civil servant recruitment; and titles and degrees obtained after graduation. RESULTS Significant differences were found only in civil servant recruitment exam results (p=0.0098) and in income after graduation (p=0.02), which were both higher in the non-SIP group. Only one doctor got a M.Sc. degree after graduation, but many of them in both groups obtained technical titles, and had papers presented at congresses or published. CONCLUSIONS Apparently, taking part in a SIP led to lower income and worse civil servant recruitment exam results. However, this may only reflect a transient phase in a long-term process. New research currently under way will answer this remaining question, now that more time has elapsed since graduation. Rev Port Pneumol 2010; XVI (5): 797-808.

The Influence of an undergraduate scientific initiation programme onn the professional profile of new physicians.

INTRODUCTION This paper studies the influence of a Scientific Initiation Programme (SIP) on the professional profile of new doctors from a Brazilian university. AIM AND METHODS Evaluate fifty-two new doctors divided into two groups matched by sex, age and academic performance and differing only in participation in the SIP. Professional and socioeconomic data were collected, including schooling of parents; average income before, during and after the medical course; current professional situation; results of exams for civil servant recruitment; and titles and degrees obtained after graduation. RESULTS Significant differences were found only in civil servant recruitment exam results (p = 0.0098) and in income after graduation (p = 0.02), which were both higher in the non-SIP group. Only one doctor got a M.Sc. degree after graduation, but many of them in both groups obtained technical titles, and had papers presented at congresses or published. CONCLUSIONS Apparently, taking part in a SIP led to lower income and worse civil servant recruitment exam results. However, this may only reflect a transient phase in a long-term process. New research currently under way will answer this remaining question, now that more time has elapsed since graduation.