Perceived need for emergency medicine training in Pakistan: a survey of medical education leadership.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the perception of leaders of the academic medical institutions regarding the need for specialty training in emergency medicine.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in all medical colleges of Pakistan in September 2005. Our sample included all academic leaders of recognized medical colleges in Pakistan. A questionnaire was designed and sent (mailed and faxed) to vice chancellors, deans, principals or medical directors of the institutions. Reminders were sent through faxes and emails wherever available, followed by phone calls if responses were not available after several attempts.


RESULTS
At the time of study, there were 39 medical colleges recognized by Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. Of these, responses were received from 26 teaching institutions in the country. A majority of the respondents (85%) were not satisfied with the care provided in the ED of their primary teaching hospital, and three-fourth (74%) thought that doctors specialized in other disciplines, like internal medicine and family medicine, cannot adequately manage all emergencies. When asked if Pakistan should have a separate residency training programme in emergency medicine, 96% responded in affirmative, and many (85%) thought that they will start a residency programme in emergency medicine if it was approved as a separate specialty.


CONCLUSIONS
This survey shows significant support for a separate local training programme for emergency medicine in the country.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. junaid.razzak@aku.edu
Junaid A
JA
Razzak
Adnan
A
Ahmed
Ali Faisal
AF
Saleem
Muazzam
M
Nasrullah
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004501:Education, Medical; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010154:Pakistan; D012938:Social Perception