<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_sjph-2018-0013_s_006_w2aab3b7b7b1b6b1aab1c18b1Aa"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>One of the aims of health care reform in Montenegro is to strengthen primary care. An important step forward is the implementation of specialty training in family medicine (FM). The aim of this article is to evaluate the implementation of specialty training in family medicine in Montenegro, regarding the content, structure and methods, by the first generation of trainees and the coordinator of the training.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2018-0013_s_007_w2aab3b7b7b1b6b1aab1c18b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>A questionnaire was sent by mail in July and August 2017 to all 26 eligible trainees who started specialty training in 2013. Twenty-two of the 26 trainees (84.6%) responded. The questionnaire consisted of closed and open-ended questions related to the evaluation of the training. A descriptive quantitative and qualitative analysis with predefined themes and a semi-structured interview with the coordinator were carried out.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2018-0013_s_008_w2aab3b7b7b1b6b1aab1c18b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>The process of training in FM was assessed positively by both trainees and the coordinator. The positive assessment included that the specialisation course offered modern design through modules and practice, and trainees both improved their existing knowledge and skills and acquired new ones necessary for everyday work. The coordinator emphasised the importance of the introduction of new teaching methods and formative assessment, the important role of mentors, and the involvement of Slovenian colleagues in the teaching process and supervision of the programme.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2018-0013_s_009_w2aab3b7b7b1b6b1aab1c18b4Aa"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The implementation of speciality training in FM in Montenegro was successful. Several assessment methods were used that can be further developed in individual structured feedback, which could stimulate the continual improvement of trainees’ knowledge and competencies.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionOne of the aims of health care reform in Montenegro is to strengthen primary care. An important step forward is the implementation of specialty training in family medicine (FM). The aim of this article is to evaluate the implementation of specialty training in family medicine in Montenegro, regarding the content, structure and methods, by the first generation of trainees and the coordinator of the training.MethodsA questionnaire was sent by mail in July and August 2017 to all 26 eligible trainees who started specialty training in 2013. Twenty-two of the 26 trainees (84.6%) responded. The questionnaire consisted of closed and open-ended questions related to the evaluation of the training. A descriptive quantitative and qualitative analysis with predefined themes and a semi-structured interview with the coordinator were carried out.ResultsThe process of training in FM was assessed positively by both trainees and the coordinator. The positive assessment included that the specialisation course offered modern design through modules and practice, and trainees both improved their existing knowledge and skills and acquired new ones necessary for everyday work. The coordinator emphasised the importance of the introduction of new teaching methods and formative assessment, the important role of mentors, and the involvement of Slovenian colleagues in the teaching process and supervision of the programme.ConclusionsThe implementation of speciality training in FM in Montenegro was successful. Several assessment methods were used that can be further developed in individual structured feedback, which could stimulate the continual improvement of trainees’ knowledge and competencies.

Specialty training in family medicine in Montenegro – An evaluation of the programme by the first generation of trainees

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine

University of Montenegro, Medical Faculty of Podgorica

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

SPECIALIZACIJA IZ DRUŽINSKE MEDICINE V ČRNI GORI - OCENA PRVE GENERACIJE SPECIALIZANTOV DRUŽINSKE MEDICINE

IntroductionOne of the aims of health care reform in Montenegro is to strengthen primary care. An important step forward is the implementation of specialty...

Elements of the exam	Pass criteria	The number (%) of participants who passed this part of the exam	Mean number points (N=12)	Range, median
Written test (max. number of points: 120)	72 points (60%)	12 (100)	105.8	From 96 to 117, median 104

OSCE station (max. 12)	9 (75%)	12 (100)	11.8	From 10 to 12, median 12

MEQ questions	Excellent, very good or good	12 (100)

Final exam	Pass	11 (91.7)

Test year	N	Minimum number of points	Maximum number of points	Mean (SD)	The number (percentage) of trainees with at least 60 points (pass/fail criteria)
2013	19	31	74	57.7	10 (52.6%)
2014	21	63	94	80.4	21 (100%)
2015	14	53	75	65.9	11 (78.6%)
2016	17	56	84	71.7	15 (88.2%)

Aspects of evaluation	Lowest/highest rate (range)	N or Mean
Were your expectations of the specialty training fulfilled? (Usefulness)	3-5 (2)	4.41 (0.73)
How would you assess the overall quality of the training (usefulness, quality, teaching methods)? (Quality)	3-5 (2)	4.41 (0.67)
Did you find the teaching methods to be appropriate to reaching the teaching goals? (Teaching methods)	3-5 (2)	4.62 (0.59)
How would you assess the role of your main mentor? (Mentorship)	3-5 (2)	4.55 (0.74)
How would you assess the organisation of the training? (Organisation)	2-5 (3)	4.68 (0.72)
Did the training have an impact on your daily practice? (Impact on daily practice)	3-5 (2)	4.43 (0.75)

Characteristic	N or Mean	% or distribution of values, SD
Gender (Female)	19	86.4%
Age	39.9	from 35-57, SD 5.0 years
Age at the beginning of training	35.7	from 31-52, SD 4.7 years
Average grade of undergraduate education	8.1	from 7.0-9.7, SD 0.8
Years of working experience in FM before starting the training	6.3	from 2-20 years, SD 4.4 years

Specialty training in family medicine in Montenegro – An evaluation of the programme by the first generation of trainees

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Apr 12, 2018

Page range: 96 - 105

Received: Oct 16, 2017

Accepted: Mar 12, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2018-0013

Keywords
specialty training in family medicine, Montenegro, evaluation of the programme, quantitative and qualitative analyses

© 2018 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Grades in the different elements of the exam.

Results of the progress test.

Evaluation of the training.

Description of the participating trainees.

Specialty training in family medicine in Montenegro – An evaluation of the programme by the first generation of trainees

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Apr 12, 2018

Page range: 96 - 105

Received: Oct 16, 2017

Accepted: Mar 12, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2018-0013

Keywordsspecialty training in family medicine, Montenegro, evaluation of the programme, quantitative and qualitative analyses

© 2018 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Grades in the different elements of the exam.

Results of the progress test.

Evaluation of the training.

Description of the participating trainees.

Keywords
specialty training in family medicine, Montenegro, evaluation of the programme, quantitative and qualitative analyses