Neurophysiology training in the Neurology Specialist Education Program in Spain.

INTRODUCTION: The training period in neurophysiology is a substantial part of the Neurology Specialist Program in Spain. The National Neurology Committee (La Comisión Nacional de Neurología (CNN), which is the body reporting to the Ministries of Health and Education, must ensure compliance to the Program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the first trimester of 2008, the CNN sent a questionnaire, in which there was a question asking about this training period, to each of the managers of the 69 teaching units accredited for neurology training in Spain, for them to answer. RESULTS: Of the 69 questionnaires issued, 49 were received completed, which was a response rate of 71%. The neurophysiology training period of the neurology specialist program in Spain was carried out in the same hospital in 44 teaching unit (90%): the remaining 5 sent their neurology trainees to 4 different hospitals. The Unit that carried out the neurophysiology training period was incorporated into the Neurology Department in 27 (55%) cases, and the formula was mixed in 3 (6%). A total of 69% of tutors were satisfied with the training, but was 90% in the hospitals where the unit was integrated into Neurology, and was 65% where this relationship did not exist. The neurologists in training were informed about EEG in 49% of education units, performed EMG/ENG 57%, and informed about evoked potentials in 35% after their training period. CONCLUSIONS: Although the level of satisfaction is high, the level of responsibility assumed by the neurologists in training during their rotation into neurophysiology does not appear to comply to the demands laid out in the training program, particularly in these units not integrated into Neurology Departments.

[Specific neurology emergency training of medical residents in Spain]. / La guardia específica de Neurología en la formación del médico residente en España.

INTRODUCTION: Training in emergency neurological illness is very important for the neurologist today. The Neurology National Commission has decided to obtain information on the work duties of neurologist residents in the different neurology units of the hospitals of our country and the supervision of the training in urgent pathology. METHOD: A survey of adult neurology program directors to find out if their hospital fulfils the program criteria for the residents duty work. RESULTS: A response rate of 98.5% was obtained. In 47% of the neurology training units a neurologist supervised resident duty work 24 hours a day. In the rest of the neurology training units they did not fulfil all the training program criteria. We analysed the differences between the neurologist training units, and there are great differences between the hospitals and all regions and communities in our country. Only 65% of neurology residents do their education in neurology units who fulfill the national program criteria on training on urgent neurology pathology CONCLUSIONS: There is too much diversity in resident duty work in neurologist training units and not all the units meet the national training program requirements.

[The need for specialist assistance in neurology]. / Necesidades de asistencia especializada en Neurología.

INTRODUCTION: The need for specialist attention in neurology in a particular population is not constant but may vary over a period of time, depending on a series of changeable conditions. For this reason it is useful to make periodical reappraisals, so as to adapt the services available to the true needs of the population at any particular time. DEVELOPMENT: In this paper we consider the steps to be followed when carrying out a study of the need for attention, and analyze the variables which influence the calculation of the number of neurologists necessary in a particular population, and the methods of obtaining information and identifying requirements. Besides this, we summarize the data of five Spanish studies which sought to define the needs for neurological attention from both the point of view of Primary Care doctors (three studies in the Health Areas of Alcoi, Alicante and San Juan, in the Communidad Valenciana) and that of the specialist (two studies: one in the setting of the Sociedad Valenciana de Neurología and one in that of the Sociedad Española de Neurología). CONCLUSION: In our model of specialized neurological attention there is a great need and demand for specialized neurological attention, with a tendency towards direct neurological attention for each patient.