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. 2002 May;50(5):724-9.
doi: 10.1136/gut.50.5.724.

A survey on gastroenterology training in Europe

R Bisschops  1 , A Wilmer, J Tack
Affiliations

A survey on gastroenterology training in Europe

R Bisschops et al. Gut. 2002 May.

Abstract

Background: Specialist training in gastroenterology and hepatology is not standardised in different European countries.

Aim: The aim of this survey was to assess the different teaching and socioeconomic aspects of training programmes in Europe.

Methods: Seventy questionnaires were distributed to last year trainees or newly graduated gastroenterologists. Forty two respondents (60%) from 34 major training centres in 10 different European countries replied.

Results: Overall, the data revealed major diversity for all aspects analysed, between and within the different European countries. Both the duration of training (range 4-10.4 years) and workload (range 48.5-89.2 hours per week) differed markedly between countries. The average number of endoscopic procedures (gastroscopies, range 300-2600; colonoscopies, range 73-550; endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies, range 1-385) differed also. One third of last year trainees reported that they felt uncertain in some endoscopic procedure. The European trainee was on call for 5-6 nights a month on average (range 1-8). Monthly wages differed considerably between countries, ranging from 767 to 2180 Euro.

Conclusion: We found major differences in the professional aspects and socioeconomic conditions of gastroenterologist/hepatologist training in 10 different European countries, probably leading to differences in quality of training. In several countries or centres the average number of procedures was below the threshold issued by the European Board of Gastroenterology or the American Gastroenterological Association. Issuing a European diploma for gastroenterology is a valuable effort towards meeting this problem. Further studies are needed to re-evaluate the training programmes in Europe and to define threshold numbers and technical end points for assessment of endoscopic skills.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Average number of hours spent on research per week in the different European countries. B, Belgium; D, Denmark; E, UK; F, France; G, Germany; I, Italy; N, Netherlands; S, Spain; NO, Norway; GR, Greece.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Average number of teaching rounds attended per week and given per year in the different European countries. B, Belgium; D, Denmark; E, UK; F, France; G, Germany; I, Italy; N, Netherlands; S, Spain; NO, Norway; GR, Greece.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Fields in which last year trainees felt undertrained.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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