title: Assessing family medicine trainees--what can we learn from the European neighbours?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although demands on family physicians (FP) are to a large extent similar in the European Union, uniform assessment standards for family medicine (FM) specialty training and assessment do not exist. Aim of this pilot study was to elicit and compare the different modalities and assessment methods of FM specialty training in five European countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A semi structured survey was undertaken based on a convenient sample in five European countries (Denmark, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom). The respondents were asked to respond to ten items about aspects of FM specialty training and assessment methods in their respective countries. If available, this data was completed with information from official websites of the countries involved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FM specialty training is performed heterogeneously in the surveyed countries. Training time periods range from three to five years, in some countries requiring a foundation program of up to two years. Most countries perform longitudinal assessment during FM specialty training using a combination of competence-based approach with additional formative and summative assessment. There is some evidence on the assessments methods used, however the assessment method used and costs of assessment differs remarkably between the participating countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Longitudinal and competence-based assessment is the presently preferred approach for FM specialty training. Countries which use less multifaceted methods for assessment could learn from best practice. Potential changes have significant cost implications.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flum
authors.affiliation: University of Aarhus, Department of Medical Education, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Roar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maagaard
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Lodz, Centre for Family and Community Medicine, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Godycki-Cwirko
authors.affiliation: Health Education East Midlands, Nottingham, The United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scarborough
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Centre, Department of Primary and Community Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nynke
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scherpbier
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ledig
authors.affiliation: University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Institute of General Practice, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, Heidelberg, Germany ; University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Institute of Family Medicine, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Jost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinhäuser
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000592:standards; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000592:standards; D005060:Europe; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Primary health car; assessment; competency-based education; curriculum; training