Adult congenital heart disease training in Europe: current status, disparities and potential solutions
Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the status of training of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) cardiologists in Europe. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to ACHD cardiologists from 34 European countries. RESULTS: Representatives from 31 of 34 countries (91%) responded. ACHD cardiology was recognised by the respective ministry of Health in two countries (7%) as a subspecialty. Two countries (7%) have formally recognised ACHD training programmes, 15 (48%) have informal (neither accredited nor certified) training and 14 (45%) have very limited or no programme. Twenty-five countries (81%) described training ACHD doctors 'on the job'. The median number of ACHD centres per country was 4 (range 0-28), median number of ACHD surgical centres was 3 (0-26) and the median number of ACHD training centres was 2 (range 0-28). An established exit examination in ACHD was conducted in only one country (3%) and formal certification provided by two countries (7%). ACHD cardiologist number versus gross domestic product Pearson correlation coefficient=0.789 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Formal or accredited training in ACHD is rare among European countries. Many countries have very limited or no training and resort to 'train people on the job'. Few countries provide either an exit examination or certification. Efforts to harmonise training and establish standards in exit examination and certification may improve training and consequently promote the alignment of high-quality patient care.
Source: Open Heart
Authors: Colin J McMahon, Inga Voges, Petra Jenkins, Margarita Brida, Annemien E van der Bosch, Mikael Dellborg, Ruth Heying, Jörg I Stein, Borislav Georgiev, Senka Mesihovic-Dinarevic, Katja Prokšelj, Gylfi Oskarsson, Alexandra Frogoudaki, Tevfik Karagöz, Antonis Jossif, Gabriela Doros, Dorte Nielsen, Mikko Jalanko, Inmaculada Sanchez Perez, Sílvia Alvares, Mette-Elise Estensen, Andreas Petropoulos, Raili Tagen, Lina Gumbienė, Ina Michel-Behnke, Peter Olejnik, Paul F Clift, Skaiste Sendzikaite, Dimpna C Albert-Brotons, Mark Rhodes, Olli Pitkänen, Pier Paolo Bassareo, Michael A Gatzoulis, Kevin Walsh, Ornella Milanesi, Magalie Ladouceur, Massimo Chessa, Werner Budts
Institutions: University College Dublin, Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Trust, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, University of Rijeka, Royal Brompton Hospital, Erasmus MC, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, KU Leuven, Innsbruck Medical University, Universität Innsbruck, National Heart Hospital, University of Mostar, University of Ljubljana, University of Iceland, University General Hospital Attikon, Hacettepe University, Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Oslo University Hospital, Azerbaijan Medical University, Tartu University Hospital, Vilnius University, Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Klinikos, Medical University of Vienna, Comenius University Bratislava, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Leeds Beckett University, Helsinki Children's Hospital, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, University of Padua, Azienda Ospedale - Università Padova, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,391
OpenAlex ID: W4389766545