Survey of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians examination candidates: preparation and impact on lifestyle.

Candidates currently view the Royal Australasian College of Physicians' written examination as a major undertaking, knowing that approximately one-third fail on their first attempt. We anonymously surveyed New Zealand registrars who sat the written examination in 2004. We found that the majority of candidates spend long hours preparing over a several months, and that the examination had a detrimental impact on their personal lives. The results of this survey have important implications in the context of efforts to reduce the stress of doctors, and should lead to a change in either the examination itself or an increase in support provided to registrars preparing for it.