A European exchange scheme for junior doctors in internal medicine 1977-91: experiences of participants and organisers.

A retrospective survey was undertaken of the participants in and the organisers of an exchange scheme for junior physicians which has operated since 1977 between leading hospitals in countries of the European Community and Switzerland. The exchange has clinical, research, educational and cultural objectives and the survey sought to record the experiences of participants and their chiefs of service and note the strengths and weaknesses of the scheme as well as problems encountered with it. Overall, the participants' reports of their experiences of the scheme were favourable. Chiefs of host departments were enthusiastic about the interaction between participants and the host institutions. The impact of the programme on the junior doctors' educational and career development was variable though generally positive; major career changes were rare, the common pattern being one of helpful focusing of career intentions. Problems were relatively infrequent, mostly related to poor briefing, finances and bureaucracy. Few general international differences of experience of the scheme emerged.