title: Job variation in advanced training in adult neurology in Australia and New Zealand: a follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Six years ago, a survey of Australian trainees in neurology highlighted several differences in the training offered by the various positions. There has been a subsequent increase in trainee numbers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This survey aimed to re-examine the workload and exposure provided by individual positions and to compare training in Australia and New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was circulated in 2012 to all advanced trainees in core adult neurology positions in Australia and New Zealand, looking at ward work, outpatient clinics, neurophysiology exposure and on-call commitments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 85.7%. There was a 48.7% increase in the number of core training positions in Australia, but an average increase in inpatient workload of 56%. General neurology clinic numbers were unchanged while specialist clinic exposure had risen from 1.0 to 1.8 clinics/week. In some cases, exposure to neurophysiology had fallen. The requirement for out-of-hours on-call had fallen. There were no major differences between positions in Australia and New Zealand.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There have been significant improvements in advanced training in adult neurology in the 5 years between 2007 and 2012: numbers of trainees have increased, on-call commitments have fallen and exposure to specialist clinics has risen. However, inpatient workload has increased significantly, accompanied by a slight reduction in exposure to training in neurophysiology in some cases. Overall, the changes are encouraging, but more work is still needed to ensure that individual positions meet the training needs of trainees.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology, Concord General Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Burrell
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parratt
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lueck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D032802:Committee Membership; D003625:Data Collection; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006757:Hospital Units; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007587:Job Description; D009462:Neurology / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009488:Neurosciences / Q000193:education; D009520:New Zealand; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011367:Professional Staff Committees / Q000458:organization & administration; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: education; neurology; physician training; questionnaire survey