Medical training in Greece: A crisis in progress

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Workforce Development
• Graduate Medical Training

Background:

• Assessing the quality of medical education is crucial for healthcare system improvement.
• Understanding student and graduate perspectives can identify key areas for enhancement.
• Greece faces unique challenges in medical training and workforce retention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the opinions of medical students and graduates on the quality of medical education in Greece.
• To identify specific areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction within undergraduate and postgraduate medical training.

Main Methods:

• Distribution of two online questionnaires targeting undergraduate medical education and specialty training.
• Analysis of participant responses regarding educational quality, training support, and working conditions.

Main Results:

• 52.1% found undergraduate medical education favorable; 45.1% were satisfied with clinical training.
• High dissatisfaction rates (88.4% and 83.3%) were reported for research opportunities and tutor support.
• 52.3% were satisfied with specialty training, with common complaints including lack of a formal program and long working hours (>60h/week for 70.1%).
• Physicians in medical specialties reported higher satisfaction with training and fewer long working hours compared to surgical specialties.

Conclusions:

• The survey findings underscore a significant need for comprehensive reform in Greece's medical education system.
• Implementing structured educational programs and improving working conditions are essential for enhancing specialty training.
• Addressing research and mentorship deficits is critical for improving the overall medical education experience.