To the Editor: We read with interest McNamara’s pieces on the length of Australian medical training.1,2 The current training system is more a crude result of historical evolution than the outcome of a strong evidence base. The extra time taken by Australian doctors to become competent at a procedure is likely mirrored in other areas of medical knowledge and skill because of both internal (doctor) factors including learning attributes and interests, and external (environmental) factors, such as supervisor guidance and “chance” clinical experiences.
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- 1. McNamara S. Does it take too long to become a doctor? Med J Aust 2012; 196: 528-530. <MJA full text>
- 2. McNamara S. Does it take too long to become a doctor? Med J Aust 2012; 196: 595-597. <MJA full text>
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- 6. Health Workforce Australia. Health workforce 2025: Doctors, nurses and midwives — volume 1. Adelaide: HWA, 2012. https://www.hwa.gov.au/sites/uploads/health-workforce-2025-volume-1.pdf (accessed Jul 2012).
- 7. Temple J. Time for training: a review of the impact of the European Working Time Directive on the quality of training. http://www.mee.nhs. uk/PDF/14274%20Bookmark%20Web%20 Version.pdf (accessed Jun 2012).
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