Survey on Training Satisfaction among German Neurosurgical Trainees

Abstract

Background There has been a fivefold increase of neurosurgeons over the last three decades in Germany, despite a lesser increase in operations. Currently, there are approximately 1,000 neurosurgical residents employed at training hospitals. Little is known about the overall training experience and career opportunities for these trainees.

Methods In our role as resident representatives, we implemented a mailing list for interested German neurosurgical trainees. Thereafter, we created a survey including 25 items to assess the trainees' satisfaction with their training and their perceived career prospects, which we then distributed through the mailing list. The survey was open from April 1 until May 31 2021.

Results Ninety trainees were enrolled in the mailing list and we received 81 completed responses to our survey. Overall, 47% of the trainees were very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with their training. Sixty-two percent of the trainees reported a lack of surgical training. Fifty-eight percent of trainees found it difficult to attend courses or classes and only 16% had consistent mentoring. There was an expressed desire for a more structured training program and mentoring projects. In addition, 88% of trainees were willing to relocate for fellowships outside their current hospitals.

Conclusions Half of the responders were dissatisfied with their neurosurgical training. There are various aspects that require improvement, such as the training curriculum, structured mentoring, and reduction of the amount of administrative work. We propose the implementation of a modernized structured curriculum, which addresses the mentioned aspects, in order to improve neurosurgical training and, consecutively, patient care.

Keywords

neurosurgical training - residency training - curriculum - Germany

Publication History

Received: 17 November 2022

Accepted: 07 March 2023

Accepted Manuscript online:
13 March 2023

Article published online:
26 July 2023

• References

• 1 Forster MT, Behrens M, Lawson McLean AC, Nistor-Gallo DI, Weiss M, Maurer S. Gender disparity in German neurosurgery. J Neurosurg 2021; 136 (04) 1141-1146
• 2 Radtke R. . Gesamtversorgungsgrade der Neurochirurgen in Deutschland nach Bundesländern im Jahr 2016. Accessed August 2, 2022 at: https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/602334/umfrage/gesamtversorgungsgrade-der-neurochirurgen-nach-bundeslaendern/
• 3 Reulen HJ, Kremer P, Obermüller JA. Facharztzahlen in der Neurochirurgie: Der freie Markt reguliert den Bedarf nur unzureichend. Dtsch Arztebl 2009; 106 (47) A-2364 /B-2030/C-1974
• 4 Loos S, Albrecht M, Zich K. . Zukunftsfähige Krankenhausversorgung Simulation und Analyse einer Neustrukturierung der Krankenhausversorgung am Beispiel einer Versorgungsregion in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann-Stiftung; 2019
• 5 Park HR, Park SQ, Park HK, Im SB, Yoon SM, Kim BT. Current training status of neurosurgical residents in South Korea: a nationwide multicenter survey. World Neurosurg 2019; 131: e329-e338
• 6 Garg K, Deora H, Mishra S. et al. How is neurosurgical residency in India? Results of an anonymized national survey of residents. Neurol India 2019; 67 (03) 777-782
• 7 Murguia-Fuentes R, Husein N, Vega A. et al. Neurosurgical residency training in Latin America: current status, challenges, and future opportunities. World Neurosurg 2018; 120: e1079-e1097
• 8 Stienen MN, Netuka D, Demetriades AK. et al. Neurosurgical resident education in Europe: results of a multinational survey. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2016; 158 (01) 3-15
• 9 Stienen MN, Netuka D, Demetriades AK. et al. Working time of neurosurgical residents in Europe: results of a multinational survey. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2016; 158 (01) 17-25