[Is the surgical training of French urologists more effective than that of urologists in other European countries?].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the level of surgical training of French interns with that of interns in other European countries.


METHODS
Between 2005 and 2006, an exhaustive questionnaire (www.esnz.net) was sent to 288 young urologists in 30 different European countries. Interns were classified into 3 groups: France (group 1, n = 28), Western Europe (group 2, n = 75) and Eastern Europe (group 3, n = 85). Items concerning surgical practice were analysed.


RESULTS
The mean age of the interns was 30.8 years (25.7-35.8), 34.6 years (27.4-48.0) and 31.3 years (25.3-51.3) in groups 1 to 3, respectively. The mean number of months of urology training was 28 months (6-60), 44 months (6-72) and 37 months (2-120), respectively. The mean of weekly working time was 70 hours (40-90), 60 hours (35-90) and 65 hours (40-100). French interns were technically more at ease than interns in groups 2 or 3 for all surgical procedures (open, laparoscopic, endourological). Certain criteria were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with a better level of technical skills: the number of weekly working hours, the small number of interns per department, the diversity of internships, the use of the intern record and the presence of an active tutor


CONCLUSIONS
French interns appear to learn urological surgical procedures more easily than other European interns. However the scientific training of interns must also be evaluated in order to propose a global assessment system of urology training in Europe.
Larre
Stéphane
S
European Society Residents in Urology, E.S.R.U. stephane.larre@hmn.aphp.fr
Dubosq
Francis
F
Keskin
Selçuk
S
Neuzillet
Yann
Y
Baptiste
Albouy
A
Nijman
Rien J M
RJ
Abbou
Claude-Clément
CC
Teillac
Pierre
P
Chartier-Kastler
Emmanuel
E
Richard
François
F
Rouprêt
Morgan
M
D000328:Adult; D005060:Europe; D005602:France; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014572:Urology / Q000193:education*