Evolution of the choice of places in Endocrinology and Nutrition in the Spanish exam for accessing to the resident physicians training program 2001-2022 measured with the quotation index.

INTRODUCTION: The comparison between specialties or the analysis of evolution over time of a speciality in the Spanish exam for accessing to the resident physicians training programme (RPTP) is difficult due to the changing of the number of places offered. In this paper we describe two parameters (quotation index and quotation order) that objectify the relationship between supply and demand for places in a given medical speciality in a RPTP call and analyse the evolution of the speciality of Endocrinology and Nutrition (E&N).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analysed the evolution of the supply/demand ratio for the speciality of E&N in the 2001-2022 RPTP calls using the quotation index and quotation order. An increase in the quotation order implies a worsening of the supply/demand ratio. Robust correlation analysis between year and quoatation orden is used.

RESULTS: E&N shows a worsening in the RPTP choice, both in relation to all specialties offered and in relation to specialties of medical area (robust correlation coefficient year-quotation order 0.72 (p=0.0002) if all specialties are considered and 0.80 (p<0.0001) if only medical area specialties are considered).

CONCLUSIONS: The specialty E&N has shown a negative evolution in the choice of RPTP, objectified through the quotation index and the quotation order, both in relation to all the specialties offered and in relation to all the specialties of the medical area, although it is still among the most sought-after medical specialties in the medical area.