The Young Diabetologists Forum (YDF) is a forum for diabetes trainees in the UK. With help from the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD), the YDF set up an audit amongst diabetes trainees to understand their feelings about the changing structure of diabetes care, present training needs and future job situations.
A 24‐question e‐questionnaire was set up. All diabetes trainees were sent invitations to participate in this e‐based audit, via e‐mail.
There were 192 respondents (42% of current trainees). Of these, 63% were male, and 60% were UK graduates. Twenty‐three percent intended to work, as a consultant, in a teaching hospital, 31% in a district general hospital; 65% would like to work full time as a consultant, 28% part time. Sixteen percent intended to work in the community full time while 54% would consider that option part time with the rest of sessions being in secondary care. However, 85% had not had any training relating to working in the community. In all, 54% did not want to be involved in acute medicine; 65% felt that they would still choose the same specialty given another choice while 16% would not. A total of 96% of trainees were worried over future job prospects; 63% felt negative—to some degree—about the ‘changing world of diabetes’.
The audit highlights the significant worry amongst trainees about future job prospects. If plans are to base specialty care predominantly in the community, then this is not reflected, at present, in the training curriculum. For the sake of trainees present and future, a manifest role for a specialist diabetologist, in the primary or secondary care setting, needs to be clearly defined—to help stop the erosion of morale and instil confidence in trainees about their position as specialists in diabetes care. Copyright ©2008 John Wiley & Sons.
