title: European junior neurologists perceive various shortcomings in current residency curricula.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whether residency programs in Europe and neighboring countries appropriately prepare one for clinical practice is a matter of discussion.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess perceived satisfaction and preparedness for clinical practice among residents and junior neurologists from Europe and neighboring countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We inquired about the level of satisfaction with the quality of teaching, rotations and research opportunities of their residency program with an anonymous paper-based questionnaire. We assessed different aspects of practical training including clinical examination, diagnostic procedures, and patient management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey revealed limited satisfaction with the overall training (47%). The quality of teaching was frequently perceived as good or excellent (73%), whereas supervision for patient care and diagnostic procedures was rated as improvable. Discontent related often to poor proficiency for neurological emergencies, diagnostic considerations, and therapeutic decisions. Whether the working time directive introduced by the European Union (EU) affected patient care or resident education or residents' quality of life remained ambiguous.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This cross-sectional survey disclosed shortcomings in current residency curricula. These concerned diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as well as practical skills, regardless of country, region, or institutional background. Initiatives aimed to harmonize postgraduate neurology training across Europe will need to consider these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Nyírő Gyula Hospital - National Institute of Psychiatry and Addiction, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Györfi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brasov County Emergency Hospital, Brasov, Romania.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moarcas
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genomic Medicine and Rare Disorders, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balicza
authors.affiliation: Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, The National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.|Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, Aldo Moro University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macerollo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Allgemeines Krankenhaus der Stadt Linz, Medical Faculty, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Struhal
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.|Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sellner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D000072141:Neurologists / Q000592:standards*; D009462:Neurology / Q000193:education*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction
keywords: clinical skills; postgraduate education; residency; training; working time directive