title: Real life cardio-thoracic surgery training in Europe: facing the facts.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the current status of training in cardio-thoracic surgery in Europe and the residents' perception of the effects of the full implementation of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) on training. We conducted a web-based survey of trainees registered with the European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and 79 respondents form the basis for this analysis. A majority of trainees (69.6%) are aware of the implications of the EWTD and 58.7% believe it will have an impact on their training. Most residents (98.7%) work well over the time limitations stated in the Directive and 96.2% are of the opinion that a 48-hour week would be insufficient to meet their learning needs. A large proportion (60.5%) of European trainees are dissatisfied with their training and report low-levels of regular assessment of their progress (37.8%) and of training facilities (27.4%). Only 23.3% of European trainers appear to attend training courses. Striking differences exist among European countries with regards to standards of training. These findings are alarming. Training in cardio-thoracic surgery across the European Union requires urgent attention to unify and improve the standards of training and compensate the potential negative impact of the EWTD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Hospital de Navarra, Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. jr.sadaba.sagredo@navarra.es
authors.forename: Justo Rafael
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sádaba
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loubani
authors.forename: Sacha P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Salzberg
authors.forename: Patrick O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siepe
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sardari Nia
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: O'Regan
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D016526:Workload / Q000592:standards