title: The internship year in the RSA--a need for change.
abstract: A survey of all interns doing their compulsory internship year in the RSA during 1982 and 1983 was carried out by means of a questionnaire (978 interns responded, a response rate of about 85%). Various problem areas were identified, most notably long working hours, insufficient opportunities to practice required procedures, heavy clerical duties leaving little time for training, lack of formal training, and negative attitudes engendered towards the medical profession. The significance and impact of the internship year is evaluated and the way in which South African Medical and Dental Council regulations are applied is examined. Recommendations for improvements in the effectiveness of interns' training are made.
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards; D006740:Hospital Administrators; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards; D012380:Role; D013019:South Africa; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis