Determinantes de la elección del primer nivel de atención en medicina como ámbito de formación y laboral: un estudio cualitativo

OBJECTIVE: To explore the determinants of eligibility and the choice of the first level of care as a workplace and training environment for health professionals. DESIGN: Qualitative study. SETTING: Four universities in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. PARTICIPANTS: Recently graduated doctors and medical students. METHOD: Based on the grounded constructivist theory, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted for data collection and subsequent analysis. RESULTS: 31 interviews and three focus groups were conducted during 2019–2020. Emerging concepts were organized in main axes for analysis. Positive and negative experiences were identified in relation to primary health care (PHC) in curricular spaces and practical rotations, and a significant lack of knowledge of its scope. For the choice of medical specialties, personal interests, future projections, social prestige, economic income and knowledge of a specific area of medicine are important. There is a devaluation in terms of the role and resolution capacity of PHC, and it is also associated with the assistance of populations with low socioeconomic resources. CONCLUSIONS: Little knowledge of PHC, its lack of prestige, and insufficient remuneration for first-level care professionals were identified as the main barriers to choosing PHC as a place of work and training. In contrast, social commitment, the possibility of having a better lifestyle, and the type of doctor–patient relationship appear as the main facilitators.