[Preference for general practice in the medical course: relationship with changes in the clinical environment].

Career preferences were investigated before and after a major change of clinical training setting at the University of Brasilia. The inquiry addressed to pre-clinical students for a total of 15 cohort years (N = 1107). Data were gathered through self-report questionnaires on main preference, its inducing factor (a priori, theme study, task experience) and on learning style. The results showed a significant difference between student-pool career preference profiles, before and after change, which was mostly due to a decrease (from 24% to 10%) in preference for general practice. Lesser proportions of aprioristic induction, active learning style and male students were featured in the after-change student-pool. Relation-ships were found between preference for general practice and aprioristic induction, active learning style and male sex. Decline in preference for general practice is ascribed more to factors reducing access to course than to reorientation of the curriculum.