Public health medicine training

Training in public health medicine uses a 'trainer-trainee' model for learning similar to that used in general practice. In order to examine the quality of training in the South Western region of the UK, a questionnaire was devised to assess both adequacy and importance of various factors for training. The results of the survey identified key areas for further discussion and were used as the basis of an interactive study day. One interesting finding was the difference in perceptions of trainers and trainees, possibly illustrating the differences between trainees' 'demands' and trainers' perceptions of trainees' 'needs'.