Postgraduate Medical Education System in Romania

Abstract

After the enlargement of European Community, the access to work in different European Union countries became easier. An increasing number of postgraduate trainees (residents) chose to leave their country for better financial conditions, working facilities, and research opportunities. The aim is to identify those factors that describe important characteristics of the Romanian postgraduate medical training from the residents’ perspective. The study was conducted in two samples of Romanian trainees: psychiatric and non-psychiatric residents from university hospitals. Residents were asked to fill in a questionnaire regarding their satisfaction about the postgraduate medical training. Also, they were asked to express preferences about their future medical perspectives there are no significant differences between psychiatric and non-psychiatric trainees. Most residents rate an average financial situation. Although their satisfaction regarding hospital practice is moderate, they rate a good relationship with the attending physicians. Because the training takes place in university hospitals, residents have access to conferences, lectures and case presentation. Very few have access to PhD opportunities, to sponsored pharmacologic studies, or to psychotherapy. The majority of the trainees would prefer to remain in their country, close to their families. Residents rate the medical training system as satisfying, but because of limited working opportunities after finishing residency, they consider living the country.