Keeping track of training
The Medical Training Survey (MTS) is open now - giving trainees a platform to share 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 consistent year on year, because comparisons are important. We streamline the format and layout each year to make the MTS quicker and easier to do.
The pandemic is still with us in 2022, so we again ask about the impact of COVID-19 on training. We’re worried about the culture of medicine and want to better understand the barriers trainees face in reporting bullying, harassment, discrimination and racism facing trainees, so we’ve added a question.
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.
“Results from the Medical Training Survey are already driving changes in training that help make sure that Australia’s doctors stay among the best in the world,” Medical Board of Australia Chair, Dr Tonkin said.
MTS results are collated, published online and accessible. They form a robust evidence base being used by educators, employers and other health sector agencies to continuously improve training. Case studies showing how MTS results are being used to improve training are published on the MTS website.
Dr Tonkin urged doctors in training to do the MTS and use their voice to keep improving training.
“You can help improve training for future doctors by doing the 2022 MTS”, Dr Tonkin said.
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.
Across three years, MTS results have shown that while medical training in Australia is generally in good shape, there are serious cultural problems in medicine, including bullying, harassment, racism and discrimination.
“MTS results have created an incontestable evidence base about the culture of medicine. As a result, agencies across the sector, including the Medical Board of Australia, have prioritised actions to support cultural change,” Dr Tonkin said.
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.
For more information