The Status of the Neurology Education from Resident Perspective: A National Survey in Turkey
Hale Zeynep Batur Çağlayan1, Fahrettin Ege2, Birgül Baştan3, Gül Yalçın Çakmaklı4, İrem Yıldırım Çapraz1, Ethem Murat Arsava5, Mehmet Akif Topçuoğlu5, İbrahim Arda Yılmaz6, Ahmet Onur Keskin7, Mehmet İlker Yön8, Neşe Tuncer Elmacı9, Kayıhan Uluç9
1Department of Neurology, Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
2Department of Neurology, Ufuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
3Department Of Neurology, Haseki Training And Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
4Hacettepe University, Institute of Neurological Sciences And Psychiatry, Ankara, Turkey
5Department of Neurology, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara,turkey
6Department of Neurology, Mersin University, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin,turkey
7Department of Neurology,Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
8Department Of Neurology, Ankara Numune Training And Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
9Department of Neurology, Marmara University, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
Keywords: education, residency, neurology, Turkey
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In Turkey, a national program is governed by National Board of Medical Specialties(BMS), Commision of Syllabus Creation and Standardization to improve and standardize residency training. In the present study, we aimed to assess neurology residency training programs and working conditions in Turkey based on a national survey among residents.
METHODS: All neurology residents were invited to contribute a 39 question survey via e-mail, which contained a link to the online questionnaire form (www.SurveyMonkey.com). Data on the residents’ working conditions, education and research activities was collected.
RESULTS: Of the 450 neurology residents, 136 (30•2%) completed the survey. Of these, 119 (88%) residents reported working >8 h d–1 and 116 (85%) reported they were on night duty >3 d month–1. Overall, 82% of the residents were not satisfied with the educational program in their department. Half of the residents reported that their institution did not have a structured education program. Although, 70% reported that they contributed to clinical or basic research conducted at their clinics; only 35% of them noted that they received sufficient academic supervision. Finally, 126 (94%) of the residents reported that the pay-for-performance healthcare system negatively affected their training.
CONCLUSION: The main reasons of dissatisfaction with neurology training in Turkey seem to be insufficient educational programing, nonstandardized working hours and the pay-for-performance healthcare system. The present findings can guide to standardize and improve neurology training program founded by National Board of Medical Specialties(BMS).