Actual Situation of Cardiology Residencies

pp 269-276

Abstract

The residenceis the training system of an important number of recently graduated physicians.There exists a generalized opinion about its deficiencies which is not sustained by objective data. CONAREC set up a survey in order to determine the actual situation of residencies on cardiology. From March to May 1997, 404 residents completed the survey. This represents 75% of total residencies related to CONAREC. All physicians have to undergo an examination and 75% of them also have a personal interview. Salaries and social benefits are heterogeneous and scarce in relation with the work burden. A significative amount of seminars are given by the residents themselves. On the other hand, the staff is less involved in these activities.There is an inapropriate superview of everyday-work commitment. Up to 50% of residents have the half of their work load without control. A clear disparity over the curriculum on subespecialities exists: mainly Internal Medicine, Nuclear Cardiology, Cath Laboratory, Electrophysiology and Pediatric Cardiology. Over 50% of residents disagree with the actual system. The results of this survey show that there exists a notorious disparity in our cardiology residencies. It appears crucial to create training programs by national consensus in order to allow abetter postgraduate education.