Evaluation of the present status of academic family medicine in Taiwan

Abstract

Aim : To evaluate the status of academic family medicine in Taiwan in terms of the development of the Association of Family Medicine, family medicine residency programs, and continuing medical education programs. Methods : A structured questionnaire was mailed to the chairs of the departments of family medicine in nine medical schools to collect information about faculties and family medicine curricula. Information about family medicine residency training programs, board certified family physicians, and continuing medical education (CME) programs were obtained from records of the Association of Family Medicine. Results : There were 40 full-time family medicine faculties in nine medical schools. The largest group of them (40%) are instructors. Professors were most productive in terms of research publication. All the medical schools have family medicine courses in their curriculum. Most of the lectures are given in the fifth year and practices begin in the sixth and seventh year of 7-year training for medical students. There were 65 family medicine residency training programs with 315 teaching staff in 2001. Most programs are small with only approximately four people on staff. The Taiwan Association of Family Medicine was founded in 1986. Shortly after its establishment, membership rose rapidly to 4993 by the end of 2001. The Taiwan board of family medicine was established in 1988. At the end of 2001, there were 4145 board certified family physicians in the country. The volume of CME delivered by Departments of Family Medicine reached its peak in 1992, and has gradually decreased to less than half of that number in 2000. However, opportunities for continuing education have been substituted by programs provided by others specialties. Conclusions : Family medicine is a rapidly growing specialty in Taiwan. Past efforts have laid a concrete foundation for future development. Expansion of residency training and the improvement of academic achievements are important for the future development of our specialty. © 2003 Blackwell Publishing Asia and Wonca