[Survey: Why did you become a gastroenterologist?] / Umfrage: Was hat Sie dazu bewogen, die Gastroenterologie als Fachgebiet auszuwählen?

INTRODUCTION: The specific support of medical students is indispensable in gastroenterology. The aim of this study was to identify factors that influenced members of the German Society of Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS) to choose their specialty. METHODS: Using an online survey all members of the DGVS were invited to assess the following factors: earliest time point of the decision to become a gastroenterologist, important role models and mentors, important course contents and teaching methods, the role of the doctoral thesis and other influencing aspects of the specialty gastroenterology. The evaluation included an additional subgroup analysis involving work experience (≤ 8, 9-29, ≥ 30 years) and working place (university hospital, community-based hospital, private practice). RESULTS: 1358 participants representing 24.2 % of the DGVS-members took part in the survey. Physicians with ≤ 8 years of work experience decided in 62.5 % during medical school to become a gastroenterologist compared to 37.1 % of the physicians with a work experience of ≥ 9 years (p < 0.001). Senior physicians were regarded as important role models and mentors by 40.8 % of the participants. Doctoral supervisors were regarded as important mentors that influenced the selection of the specialty by 42.8 % of the participants that completed their doctoral thesis in gastroenterology. Hands-on courses like sonography were regarded as important course contents by 42.2 % of the participants. Interventional medicine in particular endoscopy and the diversity of gastroenterology were rated as important in the selection process for the specialty. CONCLUSION: The decision to become a gastroenterologist is mainly made during medical school. The main influencing role models and mentors are senior physicians. Hands-on training in ultrasound and endoscopy were regarded as important course contents and teaching methods.

[Updated S3-Guideline for Prophylaxis, Diagnosis and Treatment of Gallstones. German Society for Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS) and German Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (DGAV) - AWMF Registry 021/008]. / Aktualisierte S3-Leitlinie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie, Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten (DGVS) und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie (DGAV) zur Prävention, Diagnostik und Behandlung von Gallensteinen.

This guideline provides evidence-based key recommendations for the prevention, diagnosis and therapy of gallstones and upgrades the 2007 version. The guideline was developed by an interdisciplinary team of gastroenterologists and surgeons, and patient support groups under the auspice of the German Society for Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases and the German Society for General Surgery and Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. The guideline used structural S3 consensus-based methodology and includes statements on clinical practice, medical education, prevention, quality assurance, outcome analysis, and integration of outpatient and inpatient care for patients with gallstone diseases.