Medical residency in cancerology in Brazil: distribution of programs and current offer of openings according to region in 2003

Abstract

Medical Residence (MR) is a type of on-service education, preparing specialists in distinct areas of the Medicine. This study aims to analyze and to compare the offer of vacancies in MR in the area of Cancerology in Brazil in 2003, observing aspects related to the concentration of resources and facilities available for Oncology in each Brazilian macro-region. There are MR programs in areas of Oncology in 38 Brazilian institutions. In the Southeast, there are 22 institutions offering such programs; 42.1% of them are located in São Paulo. Institutions in the Southeast maintain 58.3% of the residence programs. The region also concentrates more than two thirds of the vacancies (265 or 73.4%). Vacancies are unevenly distributed throughout the country: in the South 42% of the vacancies remain unfilled while in the Northeast a deficit of up to 74.4% is observed. Comparing the number of vacancies offered in each region with the number of expected new cancer cases and deaths, a significant degree of inequality was observed and confirmed by the Spearman test. In conclusion, a large difference in the distribution of programs and vacancies may be observed, with a large concentration in the Southeast as well as in some institutions. Another question in evidence is the existence of unfilled vacancies in most of the programs. An evaluation of the demand and distribution of human resources is desirable, considering the actual needs of the population.