Dieter P Hoyer1, Gernot M Kaiser2, Vito Cicinnati3,4, Sonia Radunz2, Felix Braun5, Gertrud Greif-Higer6, Maren Schulze2, Hartmut J Schmidt3, Andreas Paul2, Susanne Beckebaum3,4. 1. Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany. dieter.hoyer@uk-essen.de. 2. Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany. 3. Department of Transplantation Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, St. Josef-Krankenhaus, Essen, Germany. 5. Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic, Transplantation and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany. 6. Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: International data on training, work, and lifestyle of transplant physicians and surgeons are scarce. Such data might help in development of uniform education paths and provide insights for young clinicians interested in this field. This study aimed at the evaluation of these data in all transplant-associated medical disciplines. METHODS: A survey on professional and academic training, workload, and lifestyle was generated. The questionnaire was distributed to all members of the German Transplant Association (DTG), utilizing the tool SurveyMonkey(®) . RESULTS: A total of 127 members of the DTG responded (male/female 66.1%/33.9%, 45.8±10.3 years). The majority had been working in transplant medicine for more than 10 years (61.9%). Fifteen respondents (11.8%) obtained an official European certification (European Union of Medical Specialists). A total of 57 (48.3%) respondents worked full time on research during training. The research focus was clinical for most respondents (n=72, 61.5%). An average working time of 62±1.5 h/wk was reported. Fifty-eight percent of all respondents complained of inadequate remuneration and 50% reported inadequate acknowledgment of their professional performance. CONCLUSION: This is the first study reporting characteristics of training, work, and lifestyle in an interdisciplinary cohort of German transplant physicians and surgeons. Enormous efforts in clinical and research work were reported, associated with high rates of professional and financial dissatisfaction.
BACKGROUND: International data on training, work, and lifestyle of transplant physicians and surgeons are scarce. Such data might help in development of uniform education paths and provide insights for young clinicians interested in this field. This study aimed at the evaluation of these data in all transplant-associated medical disciplines. METHODS: A survey on professional and academic training, workload, and lifestyle was generated. The questionnaire was distributed to all members of the German Transplant Association (DTG), utilizing the tool SurveyMonkey(®) . RESULTS: A total of 127 members of the DTG responded (male/female 66.1%/33.9%, 45.8±10.3 years). The majority had been working in transplant medicine for more than 10 years (61.9%). Fifteen respondents (11.8%) obtained an official European certification (European Union of Medical Specialists). A total of 57 (48.3%) respondents worked full time on research during training. The research focus was clinical for most respondents (n=72, 61.5%). An average working time of 62±1.5 h/wk was reported. Fifty-eight percent of all respondents complained of inadequate remuneration and 50% reported inadequate acknowledgment of their professional performance. CONCLUSION: This is the first study reporting characteristics of training, work, and lifestyle in an interdisciplinary cohort of German transplant physicians and surgeons. Enormous efforts in clinical and research work were reported, associated with high rates of professional and financial dissatisfaction.