Emergency medicine as a primary specialty—French emergency medicine residents’ attitudes

Abstract

Emergency medicine (EM) has been a fellowship program (supra-specialty) in France since 2004. Even though the program can be accessed after completion of one of several primary specialties, the vast majority (97%) of its residents enter the program after having completed training in family medicine. A change to develop a primary EM specialty is being discussed. Our objective was to assess French residents and young EM physicians’ attitudes toward EM as a primary specialty. We conducted a brief cross-sectional online survey among young EM physicians and trainees in November and December 2012. There were 288 respondents to the survey. Forty-nine percent (n = 142) of respondents would have chosen EM if it was a primary specialty, but 73% (n = 209) prefer maintaining the status quo, offering EM training as a supra-specialty fellowship program. Work-related quality of life was the main reason for those not choosing EM as a primary specialty.