What are we preparing them for? Development of an inventory of tasks for medical, surgical and supportive specialties.

Background: Internationally, postgraduate medical education (PGME) has shifted to competency-based training. To evaluate the effects of this shift on the outcomes of PGME appropriate instruments are needed.

Aim: To provide an inventory of tasks specialists perform in practice, which can be used as an instrument to evaluate the outcomes of PGME across disciplines.

Spine surgery training and competence of European neurosurgical trainees.

Background: Little is known about the nature of spine surgery training received by European neurosurgical trainees during their residency and the level of competence they acquire in dealing with spinal disorders.

Methods: A three-part questionnaire entailing 32 questions was devised and distributed to the neurosurgical trainees attending the EANS (European Association of Neurosurgical Societies) training courses of 2004.

Results: Of 126 questionnaires, 32% were returned.