[Competency-based Neurosurgery Residency Programme]

A programme proposal for competency-based Neurosurgery training adapted to the specialization project is presented. This proposal has been developed by a group of neurosurgeons commissioned by the SENEC (Spanish Society of Neurosurgery) and could be modified to generate a final version that could come into force coinciding with the implementation of the specialization programme. This document aims to facilitate the test of the new programme included in the online version of our journal.

Total training period is 6 years; initial 2 years belong to the surgery specialization and remaining 4 years belong to core specialty period.

It is a competency-based programmed based on the map used by the US Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) including the following domains of clinical competency: Medical knowledge, patient care, communication skills, professionalism, practice-based learning and improvement, health systems, interprofessional collaboration and professional and personal development. Subcompetencies map in the domains of Knowledge and Patient care (including surgical competencies) was adapted to the one proposed by AANS and CNS (annex 1 of the programme). A subcompetency map was also used for the specialization rotations.

Resident's training is based on personal study (self-learning) supported by efficient use of information sources and supervised clinical practice, including bioethical instruction, clinical management, research and learning techniques.

Resident evaluation proposal includes, among other instruments, theoretical knowledge tests, objective and structured evaluation of the level of clinical competency with real or standardised patients, global competency scales, 360-degree evaluation, clinical record audits, milestones for residents progress and self-assessment (annex 2). Besides, residents periodically assess the teaching commitment of the department's neurosurgeons and other professors participating in rotations, and annually assess the overall operation of the programme. Results of evaluations are registered, together with other relevant data, in the Resident's Book.

The creation of a Programme Committee directly attached to the SENEC (National Commission) that, aside from generating a final version of the programme, monitors its implementation (level of adherence and operation in the different departments), assumes the creation of test banks and the centralized administration of knowledge tests (in the middle of the residency and/or at the end of it) and centralizes information collected by tutors that could be used for re-accreditation of the services, is proposed.