Facharztprüfung Allgemeinmedizin: Quo vadis?

Background: The specialist examination (Facharztprüfung—FA-Prüfung) is established as a quality assurance measure which can be critically analyzed against the backdrop of the need to train future examiners, the examination structure and the fact that neighboring countries sometimes do without a comparable examination. Objective: How do trainees (ÄiW) and “young” specialists (FÄ) in general practice (AM) view the structure and content of the general practice specialist examination and also what might further development of the specialist examination look like? Materials and methods: From May–December 2023, a total of 633 postgraduate trainees in general practice were surveyed as part of the evaluation of the postgraduate seminar/training programs of the competency centers for postgraduate medical training (KW), along with 752 former participants specializing in general practice who had taken part in the KW general practice seminar program in Bavaria, Germany. Results: The response rate (RR) among the trainees was n = 269 (RR = 42%) and was n = 238 (RR = 32%) among the specialists. Around 46% of the trainees surveyed stated that they were “not familiar in detail” with the specialist examination structure. Almost three-quarters of the surveyed specialists and an equally high proportion of the surveyed trainees familiar with the specialist examination procedure are of the opinion that the specialist examination should not be changed. Conclusions: The information provided by (formerly) affected persons does not indicate a desire for a change in the examination as it is currently conducted. Competency centers could develop program offerings to close trainee knowledge gaps about the examination procedure.