Young Members Group

Update on the Web-Based Survey on the Impact of the MDS Schools for Young Neurologists: 2014-2017 Data

Authors: Nirosen Vijiaratnam, BBS, BMedSci, FRACP, Thiago Cardoso Vale, PhD, Santiago Perez-Lloret, MD, PhD, Tomás de la Riestra, MD, Shaimaa Ibrahim El-Jaafary, MD, Margherita Fabbri, MD

ABSTRACT

Background: The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) Schools for Young Neurologists have been held since 2008 for young clinicians with a special interest in the field of movement disorders (MD).

Objective: To update and confirm the results of our previous survey on the perception of the impact of these courses on attendees’ careers.

Methods: A web-based survey was performed. All participants from previous MDS Schools for Young Neurologists (2015-2017) were invited to participate in a web-based questionnaire.

Results: A total of 152 out of 644 (23.6%) participants completed the survey. Over 88% considered that the course had a direct impact on their involvement in the MD field. The percentage of participants who identified as a movement disorders specialist increased substantially after the survey (9.2% to 23.9%).  Accordingly, the proportion with at least 25% of their weekly time spent practicing MD increased from 32.9% to 55.9% and MD was the main area of interest for 86.7%. Involvement in academic and teaching activities in MD increased from 15.9% up to 47.7%. Finally, 60.4% of participants were members of the MDS at the time of the course and that number increased to 85.2% at the time of the survey.

Conclusions: Our results continue to support the positive impact of the MDS School for Young Neurologists as an effective educational tool for young physicians and health care professionals. The benefits to the participants’ careers of their participants include strengthening their interest in the MD field and becoming keener to MDS.

See the Full Paper I Table 1

 

Impact of MDS Schools for Young Neurologist Careers, MDS-YMG Paper

Authors: Thiago Cardoso Vale, MD, Msc; Santiago Perez-Lloret, MD, PhD; Margherita Fabbri, MD; Tiago Teodoro, MD, PhD; Tomás de la Riesta, MD; Sergio A. Rodriguez-Quiroga, MD; Miryam Carecchio, MD; Joaquim J Ferreira, MD, PhD; Wassilos Meissner, MD, PhD; Charles H. Adler, MD, PhD. 

ABSTRACT

Background: The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) Schools for Young Neurologists have been held since 2008 for young clinicians with a special interest in the field of movement disorders (MD).

Objective: To evaluate the participants’ perception of the impact of these courses on their careers.

Methods: A web-based survey was performed. All participants from previous MDS Schools for Young Neurologists (2008-2014) were invited to participate in a webbased questionnaire.

Results: A total of 283 out of 650 (43.5%) participants completed the survey.

Almost 80% considered that the course had a direct impact on their involvement in the MD field. Of the 75 participants who had completed residency at the time of the survey, the number of those who are working as MD specialists increased from 34 (43.3%) at the time of the school to 72 (96%) at the moment of the survey. Accordingly, the proportion with at least 25% of their weekly time spent practicing MD increased from 48.7% to 70% and MD was the main area of interest for 77.2%. Involvement in academic and teaching activities in MD increased from 48.6% up to 92.7%. Finally, 39.6% of participants were members of the MDS at the time of the course and that number increased to 87.4% at the time of the survey.

Conclusions: Clinicians with a special interest in MD reported a significant impact of attending a MDS School for Young Neurologists. Following completion of the schools, they have continued to be involved in the field by joining MDS, becoming MD specialists and engaging in specialized academic and teaching activities.

See the Full Paper | Table 1 | Table 2