Inventory of training of internal medicine in France: Results of a national survey

Objective. - To make an inventory of training of Internal Medicine in France. Method. - This study was conducted between May and September 2015 with coordinators (interviews of 45 minutes) of local Internal Medicine training and fellows (online questionnaire). Results. - All coordinators (n = 28) responded to the interviews. Local training of Internal Medicine exists in 86% of regions (3.1 +/- 3.1 hours/month) and an interregional training in all interregions (34.7 +/- 13.9 hours/year). When excluding Ile-de-France, no correlation between the number of teachers and the amount of lessons was noted (P= 0.61). Of the 550 fellows in Internal Medicine in 2014-2015, 223 (41%) responded to the online questionnaire. Mean level was 5.5 +/- 2.7 semesters. The rate of satisfaction (1 = very dissatisfied and 5 = very satisfied) was 3.0 +/- 1.0 and 3.8 +/- 0.8 for regional and interregional teaching, respectively (P< 0.0001). Regional teaching satisfaction was correlated with the perceived expanse of diseases covered into the program (P< 0.0001). In addition, 89% of fellows wish to evaluate themselves online, 66% wish to have a practical evaluation at the bedside and 70% in simulation centers. Finally, 91% of fellows support the establishment of a national program for the training of Internal Medicine. Conclusion. - This survey states for the first time an inventory of training of Internal Medicine dedicated to fellows in France. This report highlights that fellows wish to have a national program, be further evaluated and have access to more interactive approach of teaching. (C) 2016 Societe Nationale Francaise de Medecine Interne (SNFMI). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.