[Pathology training in Spain: What is the status quo and how should we improve?]

Abstract

The unpopularity of Pathology among medical students is of concern worldwide, as is the high drop-out rate during the speciality training programme. Spain is no exception, with an estimated annual drop-out rate greater than 20%. In the present study, we aimed to analyse factors related to motivation, teaching and satisfaction with post-graduate training. Postgraduates in their 3^rd and 4^th year of speciality training programmes and pathologists during their first three years as specialists were asked to fill in a questionnaire; 155 participants from different parts of Spain took part in the study. Our results revealed a high level of satisfaction among those who had chosen pathology as their specialty and that their satisfaction correlated significantly with two factors: a previous knowledge of the speciality when choosing it and the quality of the training received. We detected certain differences amongst different training centres. The weakest points and thus those that need to be improved were training in molecular techniques, research methods and fine needle aspiration. Improving speciality training is certainly possible and should be the concern of all those who are responsible for postgraduate education in teaching hospitals.

Keywords: Anatomía patológica; Docencia; Formación; Pathology; Post graduate education; Residencia; Satisfacción; Satisfaction; Speciality training; Teaching.