Canan Duman İlki, Hüseyin Özden Şener

Department of Neurology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye

Keywords: Clinical neurophysiology, medical education, subspecialty training, survey study.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the current status, encountered issues, and potential solutions regarding clinical neurophysiology (CNP) subspecialty training in Türkiye, based on the experiences of fellows and specialists.

Materials and methods: An online questionnaire was administered to 37 physicians who had completed or were enrolled in CNP subspecialty training in April 2025. The survey addressed topics including the training process, curriculum, theoretical and practical adequacy, technical infrastructure, availability of rotations, and employee rights. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Most participants reported issues such as lack of standardization, insufficient technical infrastructure, short training duration, and significant variation in educational content between centers. Limited rotation opportunities and inadequate exposure to procedures such as ultrasonography, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and intraoperative neuromonitoring were also highlighted. Additionally, uncertainty regarding employment rights was identified as a factor negatively impacting the training process.

Conclusion: Subspecialty training in CNP in Türkiye needs to be strengthened in terms of content, implementation, and employment-related conditions. Updating the national curriculum with achievable goals, improving technical resources, and addressing uncertainties in post-training employment planning are essential for a sustainable and high-quality training model.

Cite this article as: Duman İlki C, Şener HÖ. Subspecialty training in clinical neurophysiology in Türkiye: A national survey on the educational process, challenges, and proposed solutions. Turk J Neurol 2025;31(3):327-333. doi: 10.55697/tnd.2025.490.