[Profile and motivations of students performing a universitary degree in 2011]

Observational study relating to the inscriptions with universitary diplomas (DU) in relation with anesthesiology and intensive care during the year 2010-2011. We had in mind to know the profile and the motivations of the students concerned.

A questionnaire was put on line and the registered students with the various diplomas were contacted by e-mail. Different items investigated concerned: demography, type of exercise of the students, heading of diplomas, scientific level of the students, their motivations at the time of the inscription and finally practical organization.

We collected 265 questionnaires, that is to say 42 % of answers. The demographic distribution of the registered voters was the followed: 71% of MD, 28% of residents. These doctors exerted for the majority with the public hospital (87%). The inscriptions concerned intensive care diplomas in 90% of the cases. The total scientific level of the students was high, since 46% of them had a diploma other than their medicine thesis. The students were registered for the majority of them "to widen their field of competence" (65%) or "in complement of their initial training" (46%). The other reasons were: "to make up a deficit of their initial training (26%)", "as continuous medical training" (16%) and finally "for the university validation of an asset" (10%). The rate of total satisfaction of the diplomas was very high (96%). Financial aid was assumed by the institution for 46% of students. Residents were less financially helped than senior practitioners. The overall costs of the DU/DIU, including the registration fee, transport and lodging, were important (>500 euros in 61% of the cases).

DUs related to our specialty are much appreciated. They interest a majority of senior doctors, but also a considerable number of residents, which poses the problem of the place of these additional trainings within the framework of initial training. The principal motivations of the registered voters are to supplement their initial training or to widen their field of competence, much more than to make up a deficit of this initial training. Lastly, the total financial expenses associated with these diplomas remain important and appear inversely proportional to the incomes of the registered students.