ENT training standards in undergraduate medical education in Turkey

Objectives: The aim is to contribute to determining certain characteristics and setting some standards for ear-nose and throat (ENT) training given in undergraduate medical education in Turkey. Methods: In June 2003, based on term 2002-2003, we collected information about undergraduate ENT training and requested training programme samples from 35 medical schools in Turkey which had graduates in practice. The responses and programme samples were evaluated. Results: Response rate was 54.3% within 19 medical schools returning the questionnaire. The education systems were as integrated in 7 (36.8%), integrated & active in 7 (36.8%), classical in 4 (21.0%) and classical& active in 1 (5.3%) of the responding medical schools. Undergraduate ENT internship was generally in term V and three week period. Training models were used in 11 (57.9%) ENT departments. Conclusion: Recently established medical schools which were situated in the western part of the country were quantitatively balanced in terms of number of trainers and students. Despite different medical education systems, significant similarities of ENT training programmes were observed. Furthermore, poor integration of timing of subjects in most of the internship training programmes came to attention. It was also observed that the younger medical schools were more inclined to use models in their training.