The Medical Training Survey (MTS) opens in August 2021 and gives trainees a voice about their experience of medical training.
MTS data from past years is already being used across the health sector to drive improvements in medical training.
Most MTS questions are repeated in 2021, because comparisons are important. Format and layout are refined and streamlined each year to make the MTS is quicker and easier to do.
The MTS is a longitudinal study that tracks the quality of medical training. Stringent privacy controls make it safe and confidential for trainees to take part. The MTS is run by the Medical Board of Australia.
Again this year, the MTS is asking trainees about the impact of COVID-19 on their training.
“We’re keen to make sure we don’t miss important data about the impacts of COVID-19 on training if they are out there,’ said Chair of the Medical Board of Australia, Dr Anne Tonkin.
Dr Tonkin urged trainees to participate in the 2021 MTS and shape the future of medical training.
“Trainee feedback is already being used to improve medical training, you can read how in the case studies available on the MTS website,’ Dr Tonkin said.
Dr Tonkin thanked all the doctors in training, specialist medical colleges, postgraduate medical councils, the Australian Medical Association, the Australian Medical Council, the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association, Doctors’ Health Services and employers who have helped revise the questions for 2021.
Results from past surveys are available online at www.MedicalTrainingSurvey.gov.au. Results are detailed in reports by specialty and geography, or accessible via the online data-dashboard that enables users to create their own tailored reports.
Headline results from 2020 indicated there’s a lot going well in medical training in Australia, but there is work to be done to improve the culture of healthcare.
The MTS is designed to promote quality improvement and is supported by trainees and a wide range of health sector stakeholders.
All doctors in training in Australia can do the survey. This includes interns, hospital medical officers, resident medical officers, non-accredited trainees, postgraduate trainees, principal house officers, registrars, specialist trainees and international medical graduates (with provisional or limited registration). Career medical officers who intend to undertake further postgraduate training in medicine can also participate.
There are five versions of the survey, tailored to different groups of trainees; interns, prevocational and unaccredited trainees, international medical graduates (with provisional or limited registration), specialist GP trainees and specialist non-GP trainees.