title: Program Director Survey: Attitudes Regarding Child Neurology Training and Testing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As a result of major clinical and scientific advances and changes in clinical practice, the role of adult neurology training for Child Neurology and Neurodevelopmental Disability (NDD) certification has become controversial. The most recently approved requirements for board eligibility for child neurology and neurodevelopmental disability residents still include 12 months in adult neurology rotations. The objective of this study was to assess United States child neurology and neurodevelopmental disability residency program directors' opinions regarding optimal residency training.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors developed an 18-item questionnaire and contacted all 80 child neurology and neurodevelopmental disability program directors via e-mail, using SurveyMonkey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 44 program directors responded (55%), representing programs that train 78 categorical and 94 total resident positions, approximately 70% of those filled in the match. Respondents identified multiple areas where child neurology residents need more training, including genetics and neuromuscular disease. A substantial majority (73%) believed child neurology and neurodevelopmental disability residents need less than 12 adult neurology training months; however, most (75%) also believed adult hospital service and man-power needs (55%) and finances (34%) would pose barriers to reducing adult neurology. Most (70%) believed reductions in adult neurology training should be program flexible. A majority believed the written initial certification examination should be modified with more child neurology and fewer basic neuroscience questions. Nearly all (91%) felt the views of child neurology and neurodevelopmental disability program directors are under-represented within the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Residency Review Committee.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The requirement for 12 adult neurology months for Child Neurology and Neurodevelopmental Disability certification is not consistent with the views of the majority of program directors, who favor more training in subspecialized fields of child neurology.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurology, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: Ignacio.valencia@drexelmed.edu.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Valencia
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Terri B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Feist
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Donald L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Gilbert
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D009462:Neurology / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Graduate Medical Education; adult neurology; child neurology; neurodevelopmental disabilities; training