Katrin Singler1,2, Ellen Astrid Holm3, Thomas Jackson4, Gillian Robertson5, Eva Müller-Eggenberger6, Regina Elisabeth Roller7. 1. Institute for Biomedicine of Aging, Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nuremberg, Nuremberg, 90408, Germany. katrin.singler@gmx.de. 2. Department of Geriatrics, Klinikum Nuremberg, Paracelsus Medical University Nuremberg, Nuremberg, 90408, Germany. katrin.singler@gmx.de. 3. Geriatric department, Nykobing Falster Hospital, Nykobing Falster, Denmark. ellh@regionsjaelland.dk. 4. School of Immunity and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. T.Jackson@bham.ac.uk. 5. EAMA, European Academy for the Medicine of Ageing, De Pintelaan 185, 1B2 9000, Ghent, Belgium. gillian.robertson@eama.eu. 6. Dept. of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, General Hospital, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria. eva.eggenberger@gmail.com. 7. Department of Geriatrics and Curriculum Development, University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, Graz, Österreich. wirnsberger@medunigraz.at.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: High-quality education and training standards in geriatric medicine are important to develop the profession of geriatric medicine. The objective of the study was to give a structured update on postgraduate specialty training in geriatric medicine throughout Europe to assess the need for further developments in postgraduate education. METHODS: The study was performed as a cross-sectional structured quantitative online survey with qualitative comments. The survey content covered organization, content and educational aspects of specialty training in geriatric medicine in European countries. After piloting, the questionnaire was sent to experts in geriatric medicine with a special interest in postgraduate training who are members of one of the following organizations; European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), European Academy for the Medicine of Aging (EAMA), and European Union Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS). RESULTS: Respondents to the survey represented 31 European countries. Geriatric medicine is recognized as an independent postgraduate specialty in 61.3 % (19/31) and as a subspecialty in 29.0 % (9/31) of the countries. In 5 of the 31 countries geriatric medicine is not recognized at all. Nearly all countries offering postgraduate training in geriatric medicine have written, competence-based curricula covering different learning domains. 20/31 countries (64.5 %) have some kind of specialist assessment. DISCUSSION: The survey tries to give an actual condensed picture of postgraduate specialty training in geriatric medicine across Europe. Results show a consistent improvement in the recognition of geriatric medicine as independent specialty over the last decade. Continuous development of specialty training in geriatric medicine is required to medical address the public health needs of an aging population. Competence-based educational models including adequate forms of assessment should be targeted throughout Europe. To emphasize the importance of postgraduate geriatric training, it should be a mission to harmonize training standards across Europe.
INTRODUCTION: High-quality education and training standards in geriatric medicine are important to develop the profession of geriatric medicine. The objective of the study was to give a structured update on postgraduate specialty training in geriatric medicine throughout Europe to assess the need for further developments in postgraduate education. METHODS: The study was performed as a cross-sectional structured quantitative online survey with qualitative comments. The survey content covered organization, content and educational aspects of specialty training in geriatric medicine in European countries. After piloting, the questionnaire was sent to experts in geriatric medicine with a special interest in postgraduate training who are members of one of the following organizations; European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), European Academy for the Medicine of Aging (EAMA), and European Union Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS). RESULTS: Respondents to the survey represented 31 European countries. Geriatric medicine is recognized as an independent postgraduate specialty in 61.3 % (19/31) and as a subspecialty in 29.0 % (9/31) of the countries. In 5 of the 31 countries geriatric medicine is not recognized at all. Nearly all countries offering postgraduate training in geriatric medicine have written, competence-based curricula covering different learning domains. 20/31 countries (64.5 %) have some kind of specialist assessment. DISCUSSION: The survey tries to give an actual condensed picture of postgraduate specialty training in geriatric medicine across Europe. Results show a consistent improvement in the recognition of geriatric medicine as independent specialty over the last decade. Continuous development of specialty training in geriatric medicine is required to medical address the public health needs of an aging population. Competence-based educational models including adequate forms of assessment should be targeted throughout Europe. To emphasize the importance of postgraduate geriatric training, it should be a mission to harmonize training standards across Europe.
Authors: Regina Roller-Wirnsberger; Tahir Masud; Michael Vassallo; Martina Zöbl; Raphael Reiter; Nele Van Den Noortgate; Jean Petermans; Ignat Petrov; Eva Topinkova; Karen Andersen-Ranberg; Kai Saks; Maria Nuotio; Sylvie Bonin-Guillaume; Dieter Lüttje; Elizabeth Mestheneos; Bela Szekacs; Anna Björg Jonsdottir; Desmond O'Neill; Antonio Cherubini; Jurate Macijauskiene; Jean-Claude Leners; Anthony Fiorini; Marianne van Iersel; Anette Hylen Ranhoff; Tomasz Kostka; Sofia Duque; Gabriel Ioan Prada; Mladen Davidovic; Stefan Krajcik; Marko Kolsek; Jesus Mateos Del Nozal; Anne W Ekdahl; Thomas Münzer; Sumru Savas; Paul Knight; Adam Gordon; Katrin Singler Journal: Age Ageing Date: 2019-03-01 Impact factor: 10.668