Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Eur J Neurol. 2021 Nov;28(11):3584-3590. doi: 10.1111/ene.14978. Epub 2021 Jul 5.
Neurology is a field of increasing subspecialization. There is no published data regarding the proportion of neurology subspecialists in the Baltic States. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify factors associated with neurology subspecialty choice, to examine possible differences between neurology residents' and junior neurologists' view of subspecialty, and to assess perceived subspecialty acquisition opportunities and subspecialty attractiveness.
The research was conducted as an anonymous online survey between December 28, 2020, and January 24, 2021 of neurology residents and neurologists who completed their residency during the last 5 years in the Baltic States.
In total, 72 residents and 65 neurologists participated. "Cerebrovascular diseases" and "multiple sclerosis and autoimmune diseases of the nervous system" were rated as the two most attractive subspecialties by residents, whereas "headache" and "clinical neurophysiology" were the most attractive among junior neurologists. "Vertigo and dizziness" and "dementia" were ranked the least attractive among both groups. "Cerebrovascular diseases" were perceived as having the most acquisition opportunities. The two most common determinants of subspecialty choice were "medical content of the subspecialty" and "influence of mentor during undergraduate studies or residency".
Two-thirds of junior neurologists subspecialize in at least one subspecialty, and one-third of residents are already determined to pursue subspecialty training. Junior neurologists rated most outpatient-related subspecialties as more attractive than neurology residents. Between the Baltic States' universities, there was a significant difference in the number of residents who were determined to pursue subspecialty training.
神经病学是一个专业化程度越来越高的领域。目前尚无关于波罗的海国家神经病学亚专业医生比例的相关数据。本横断面研究旨在确定选择神经病学亚专业的相关因素，探讨住院医师和初级神经科医生对亚专业的看法是否存在差异，以及评估感知到的亚专业获取机会和亚专业吸引力。
研究于 2020 年 12 月 28 日至 2021 年 1 月 24 日期间以匿名在线调查的形式，对在过去 5 年内完成波罗的海国家住院医师培训的住院医师和初级神经科医生进行。
共有 72 名住院医师和 65 名神经科医生参与了调查。住院医师认为“脑血管疾病”和“多发性硬化症和神经系统自身免疫性疾病”是最具吸引力的两个亚专业，而初级神经科医生认为“头痛”和“临床神经生理学”最具吸引力。“眩晕”和“痴呆”在两组中均被认为是最缺乏吸引力的亚专业。“脑血管疾病”被认为是最有机会获得的亚专业。选择亚专业的两个最常见决定因素是“亚专业的医学内容”和“本科学习或住院期间导师的影响”。
三分之二的初级神经科医生至少专攻一个亚专业，三分之一的住院医师已经决定接受亚专业培训。初级神经科医生认为大多数门诊相关亚专业比住院医师更具吸引力。在波罗的海国家的大学之间，决定接受亚专业培训的住院医师人数存在显著差异。
