Soto Campos JG, Alvarez Gutiérrez FJ, Abad Cabaco F, Carboneros de la Fuente F, Durán Cantolla J, Freixenet Gilart J, Lamela López J, Márquez Pérez FL, Montemayor Rubio T, Macián Gisbert V, Pino García JM. [Distribution of pulmonologists and chest surgeons in Spain].
Arch Bronconeumol 2002;
38:209-13. [PMID:
12028928 DOI:
10.1016/s0300-2896(02)75197-1]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To study the real situation of respiratory medicine specialists and chest surgeons in the Spanish health service.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Using the database of the secretary of the Spanish Society of Respiratory Medicine and Chest Surgery (SEPAR) for 1999, we gathered data on 326 Spanish hospitals. We were thus able to ascertain the level of staffing of respiratory medicine and chest surgery departments. The results were expressed as simple percentages showing distribution by age, duties and geographic area. The number of specialists per 100,000 inhabitants in each community was also calculated based on population data provided by the National Statistics Institute for 1997.
RESULTS
We studied 1,786 physicians or surgeons (1,245 pneumologists, 185 surgeons and 356 from other specialties). The mean age was 41 9 years for pneumologists, 44 10 years for surgeons and 51 8 years for the others. We observed unequal distribution by geographic area, with a high of 6.66 pneumologists and 0.9 surgeons per 100,000 inhabitants in Asturias and Madrid, respectively and a low of 1.4 pneumologists per 100,000 inhabitants in Murcia and 0 surgeons in Extremadura.
CONCLUSIONS
Specialist coverage by pneumologists and chest surgeons is inadequate in many provinces and communities in Spain. The professional market is not saturated, indicating that future specialists can look forward to market demand.
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