OBJECTIVE: Evaluatethe professional insertion, income and satisfaction of physicians who graduated from Botucatu Medical School (UNESP), as well as possible risk factors associated with these outcomes. METHOD: A cross-sectional study with a target population of all physicians graduated between 1968 and 2005, using a self-reporting questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rate was 45%, 1,224 of the 2,864 questionnaires sent by mail. The participants' mean age was 46.5 years old (± 10.9) and 64.4% of them were men. The majority of them were practicing as medical doctors (98.6%), in São Paulo state (96.4%); 92.0% reported having received residence training and 80.2% reported attending scientific events on a regular basis. Most of them did not live in the capital cities (70.4%) and reported having some private practice (67.4%). A monthly income of 10 to 15 thousand reais was reported by 28.4% and a high or very high degree of professional satisfaction by 66.1% of them. Logistic regression analysis showed the following variables as significantly associated with higher income: male gender, private practice, having children and being satisfied with the profession. Higher satisfaction was associated with younger age, higher income, taking a post graduate (PhD) course, considering oneself well prepared for the profession, stating that he/she would attend Medical School again and evaluating positively one's quality of life and mental health. CONCLUSION: The professional insertion of ex-students is an important aspect of institutional evaluation and should be conducted regularlyin order to support discussions regarding curricular reform.
Physicians; Medicine; Professional Practice; Work; Workplace; Job Satisfaction; Income
