Satisfaction with family medicine training in Turkey: survey of residents.

AIM: To explore how satisfied family medicine residents are with their training in teaching hospitals and current postgraduate training program.
METHODS: We surveyed 135 family medicine residents in 5 teaching hospitals in Ankara region. The residents were asked to fill out the questionnaire at their work place. The questionnaire consisted of 23 open- and closed-ended questions about general demographic data, training conditions, appropriateness of training, and quality of training delivered by clinical teachers in family medicine. The response rate was 75%.
RESULTS: Seventy percent of respondents found the order of rotation important. Most residents were satisfied with the duration of rotation. Eighty two percent of residents found basic skills taught during the course of the training to be insufficient. Fifty five percent of the participants felt that training in teaching hospitals was not sufficient, and majority desired training in family practice settings. Ninety-nine respondents suggested establishing a coordinating center for family medicine training and training of clinical teachers in topics relevant to family practice.
CONCLUSION: Family medicine residents were generally dissatisfied with their training in major teaching hospitals in Turkey. Postgraduate family medicine curriculum needs to be changed and opinions of residents regarding their training should be taken into consideration.