A SURVEY STUDY OF TRENDS IN ADULT NEPHROLOGY ADVANCED TRAINING IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

SURVEY FOR RECENTLY QUALIFIED NEPHROLOGISTS

Thank you for your agreeing to participate in our anonymous survey. This survey aims to examine the current state of adult nephrology advanced training in Australia and New Zealand. Your experience and views on training and employment will help us identify potential issues and develop strategies to improve advanced training and maximise employment prospects in nephrology.
Please note the following disclaimer prior to answering any questions. In submitting your responses, you are providing your consent to participate in the survey and agree that:
·        You understand the purpose of the survey, what you are being asked to do, and the risks and benefits of participating.
·        You are responding to the questionnaire voluntarily and that a decision to either participate or not participate does not influence your relationship with the researchers, nephrologists, or anybody else.
·        You are able to withdraw before completing the survey at any time.
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·        You are able to contact the researchers if you wish to. If you wish to complete the survey without the transfer of your information overseas then you may contact the researchers.
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Ethics approval has been obtained (https://gofile.io/d/8ZLkhw). If this survey has raised any issues you would like to discuss, please feel free to contact Dr Julian Yaxley (julian.yaxley@health.qld.gov.au) or access some suggested support services: Doctor's Health Advisory Service (www.dhas.org.au), Beyond Blue (www.beyondblue.org.au), or Employee Assistance Programs.
Thank you for your participation!

Question Title

* 1. In which year did you finish advanced training in nephrology?

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

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* 2. What was your age at the end of nephology advanced training (in years)?

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* 3. What is your gender?

Male

Female

Prefer not to say

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* 4. Where is the hospital in which you completed your final year of nephrology advanced training (enter town or postocde)?

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* 5. Where is the hospital in which you primarily currently work (enter town or postcode)?

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* 6. Did you travel interstate for clinical rotations during nephrology advanced training?

Yes, it was necessary in order to satisfy the transplant exposure requirement.

Yes, for clinical experience.

Yes, as a personal preference for lifestyle.

Yes, other.

No.

Not applicable; I trained in New Zealand.

Question Title

* 7. Did you travel overseas for clinical rotations during nephrology advanced training?

Yes, it was necessary in order to satisfy the transplant exposure requirement.

Yes, for clinical experience.

Yes, as a personal preference for lifestyle.

Yes, other.

No.

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* 8. Did you rotate to a hospital in a rural or remote region during nephrology advanced training?

Yes

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* 9. If you rotated to a hospital in a rural or remote region during nephrology advanced training, did you consider this a valuable training experience?

Yes.

No.

Not applicable.

Please provide comments if you wish to.

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* 10. Do you think a rotation to a hospital in a rural or remote region during nephrology advanced training should be mandatory?

Yes

Please provide comments if you wish to.

Question Title

* 11. How well trained did you feel for managing the following at the completion of nephrology advanced training?

	Very well trained.	Well trained.	Neutral.	Inadequately trained.	Very inadequately trained.
Peritoneal dialysis.	Peritoneal dialysis. Very well trained.	Peritoneal dialysis. Well trained.	Peritoneal dialysis. Neutral.	Peritoneal dialysis. Inadequately trained.	Peritoneal dialysis. Very inadequately trained.
Home haemodialysis.	Home haemodialysis. Very well trained.	Home haemodialysis. Well trained.	Home haemodialysis. Neutral.	Home haemodialysis. Inadequately trained.	Home haemodialysis. Very inadequately trained.
In-centre haemodialysis.	In-centre haemodialysis. Very well trained.	In-centre haemodialysis. Well trained.	In-centre haemodialysis. Neutral.	In-centre haemodialysis. Inadequately trained.	In-centre haemodialysis. Very inadequately trained.
Acute kidney transplant care.	Acute kidney transplant care. Very well trained.	Acute kidney transplant care. Well trained.	Acute kidney transplant care. Neutral.	Acute kidney transplant care. Inadequately trained.	Acute kidney transplant care. Very inadequately trained.
Chronic transplant patients.	Chronic transplant patients. Very well trained.	Chronic transplant patients. Well trained.	Chronic transplant patients. Neutral.	Chronic transplant patients. Inadequately trained.	Chronic transplant patients. Very inadequately trained.
Evaluating kidney transplant donors and recipients.	Evaluating kidney transplant donors and recipients. Very well trained.	Evaluating kidney transplant donors and recipients. Well trained.	Evaluating kidney transplant donors and recipients. Neutral.	Evaluating kidney transplant donors and recipients. Inadequately trained.	Evaluating kidney transplant donors and recipients. Very inadequately trained.
Chronic kidney disease.	Chronic kidney disease. Very well trained.	Chronic kidney disease. Well trained.	Chronic kidney disease. Neutral.	Chronic kidney disease. Inadequately trained.	Chronic kidney disease. Very inadequately trained.
Glomerulonephritis.	Glomerulonephritis. Very well trained.	Glomerulonephritis. Well trained.	Glomerulonephritis. Neutral.	Glomerulonephritis. Inadequately trained.	Glomerulonephritis. Very inadequately trained.
Acute kidney injury.	Acute kidney injury. Very well trained.	Acute kidney injury. Well trained.	Acute kidney injury. Neutral.	Acute kidney injury. Inadequately trained.	Acute kidney injury. Very inadequately trained.
Hypertension.	Hypertension. Very well trained.	Hypertension. Well trained.	Hypertension. Neutral.	Hypertension. Inadequately trained.	Hypertension. Very inadequately trained.
Patients in an outpatient clinic setting.	Patients in an outpatient clinic setting. Very well trained.	Patients in an outpatient clinic setting. Well trained.	Patients in an outpatient clinic setting. Neutral.	Patients in an outpatient clinic setting. Inadequately trained.	Patients in an outpatient clinic setting. Very inadequately trained.
Renal supportive and palliative care.	Renal supportive and palliative care. Very well trained.	Renal supportive and palliative care. Well trained.	Renal supportive and palliative care. Neutral.	Renal supportive and palliative care. Inadequately trained.	Renal supportive and palliative care. Very inadequately trained.
Private practice management.	Private practice management. Very well trained.	Private practice management. Well trained.	Private practice management. Neutral.	Private practice management. Inadequately trained.	Private practice management. Very inadequately trained.
Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).	Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Very well trained.	Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Well trained.	Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Neutral.	Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Inadequately trained.	Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Very inadequately trained.
Interpretation of renal histopathology.	Interpretation of renal histopathology. Very well trained.	Interpretation of renal histopathology. Well trained.	Interpretation of renal histopathology. Neutral.	Interpretation of renal histopathology. Inadequately trained.	Interpretation of renal histopathology. Very inadequately trained.

Question Title

* 12. In the hospital in which you primarily currently work, who primarily performs the following procedures?

	Nephrologists or nephrology advanced trainees.	Radiologists.	Intensive care physicians.	Surgeons.
Kidney biopsy.	Kidney biopsy. Nephrologists or nephrology advanced trainees.	Kidney biopsy. Radiologists.	Kidney biopsy. Intensive care physicians.	Kidney biopsy. Surgeons.
Non-tunnelled haemodialysis catheter (Vascath).	Non-tunnelled haemodialysis catheter (Vascath). Nephrologists or nephrology advanced trainees.	Non-tunnelled haemodialysis catheter (Vascath). Radiologists.	Non-tunnelled haemodialysis catheter (Vascath). Intensive care physicians.	Non-tunnelled haemodialysis catheter (Vascath). Surgeons.
Tunnelled haemodialysis catheter (Permcath).	Tunnelled haemodialysis catheter (Permcath). Nephrologists or nephrology advanced trainees.	Tunnelled haemodialysis catheter (Permcath). Radiologists.	Tunnelled haemodialysis catheter (Permcath). Intensive care physicians.	Tunnelled haemodialysis catheter (Permcath). Surgeons.
Peritoneal dialysis catheter.	Peritoneal dialysis catheter. Nephrologists or nephrology advanced trainees.	Peritoneal dialysis catheter. Radiologists.	Peritoneal dialysis catheter. Intensive care physicians.	Peritoneal dialysis catheter. Surgeons.

Question Title

* 13. Which of the following do you consider essential skills for nephrologists?

	Yes.	No.
Kidney biopsy.	Kidney biopsy. Yes.	Kidney biopsy. No.
Vascath insertion.	Vascath insertion. Yes.	Vascath insertion. No.
Permcath insertion.	Permcath insertion. Yes.	Permcath insertion. No.
Peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion.	Peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion. Yes.	Peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion. No.
Clinical research.	Clinical research. Yes.	Clinical research. No.
Renal histopathology.	Renal histopathology. Yes.	Renal histopathology. No.

Question Title

* 14. How adequate was your training in performing the following procedures?

	More than adequate.	Adequate.	Neutral.	Inadequate.	Very inadequate.
Kidney biopsy.	Kidney biopsy. More than adequate.	Kidney biopsy. Adequate.	Kidney biopsy. Neutral.	Kidney biopsy. Inadequate.	Kidney biopsy. Very inadequate.
Vascath.	Vascath. More than adequate.	Vascath. Adequate.	Vascath. Neutral.	Vascath. Inadequate.	Vascath. Very inadequate.

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* 15. How many kidney biopsies did you perform on average in each year of advanced training?

< 20

20-40

> 40

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* 16. How many Vascaths did you place on average in each year of advanced training?

< 10

10-20

> 20

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* 17. Do you think some exposure to interventional nephrology (e.g. inserting Permcaths or peritoneal dialysis catheters) during nephrology advanced training should be mandatory?

Strongly agree.

Agree.

Neutral.

Disagree.

Strongly disagree.

Please provide comments if you wish to.

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* 18. Do you think some exposure to acute kidney transplantation during nephrology advanced training should be mandatory?

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Please provide comments if you wish to.

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* 19. What was your desired practice in the first year of work following advanced training?

Full time public clinical practice.

Full time private clinical practice.

Full time mixed public and private clinical practice.

Part time public clinical practice.

Part time private clinical practice.

Full time higher degree research.

Part time mixed clinical practice and higher degree research.

Fellowship or other registrar role.

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* 20. What was your actual practice in the first year of work following advanced training?

Full time public clinical practice.

Full time private clinical practice.

Full time mixed public and private clinical practice.

Part time public clinical practice.

Part time private clinical practice.

Full time higher degree research.

Part time mixed clinical practice and higher degree research.

Fellowship or other registrar role.

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* 21. Would you have preferred more hours of clinical work each week than you were actually able, in the first year of work following advanced training?

Yes.

No.

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* 22. If your first year of practice after completion of nephrology advanced training involved higher degree research, why primarily was this chosen?

Career advancement.

Professional preference for research.

Personal preference for lifestyle.

Other.

Did not do higher degree research.

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* 23. Where was your desired practice in the first year of work following advanced training?

Metropolitan region.

Rural or remote region.

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* 24. Where was your actual practice in the first year of work following advanced training?

Metropolitan region.

Rural or remote region.

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* 25. Did you undertake dual training in nephrology and another medical speciality? If so, in what?

Yes, in general medicine.

Yes, in intensive care medicine.

Yes, in obstetric medicine.

Yes, in palliative care medicine.

Yes, other.

No.

Please provide comments if you wish to.

Question Title

* 26. If you underwent dual training in nephrology and another medical specialty, why primarily was this chosen?

Career advancement.

Professional or personal preference.

Other.

Did not do dual training.

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* 27. Would you prefer 2 years of core nephrology training and a 3rd elective year instead of the current 3 years of core nephrology advanced training?

Yes.

No.

Please provide comments if you wish to.

Question Title

* 28. Would you like more fellowship positions in nephrology subspecialties to be offered for those that have completed nephrology advanced training?

Yes.

No.

In which subspecialty would you like? Please provide comments if you wish to.

A SURVEY STUDY OF TRENDS IN ADULT NEPHROLOGY ADVANCED TRAINING IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

SURVEY FOR RECENTLY QUALIFIED NEPHROLOGISTS

Question Title

* 1. In which year did you finish advanced training in nephrology?

Question Title

* 2. What was your age at the end of nephology advanced training (in years)?

Question Title

* 3. What is your gender?

Question Title

* 4. Where is the hospital in which you completed your final year of nephrology advanced training (enter town or postocde)?

Question Title

* 5. Where is the hospital in which you primarily currently work (enter town or postcode)?

Question Title

* 6. Did you travel interstate for clinical rotations during nephrology advanced training?

Question Title

* 7. Did you travel overseas for clinical rotations during nephrology advanced training?

Question Title

* 8. Did you rotate to a hospital in a rural or remote region during nephrology advanced training?

Question Title

* 9. If you rotated to a hospital in a rural or remote region during nephrology advanced training, did you consider this a valuable training experience?

Question Title

* 10. Do you think a rotation to a hospital in a rural or remote region during nephrology advanced training should be mandatory?

Question Title

* 11. How well trained did you feel for managing the following at the completion of nephrology advanced training?

Question Title

* 12. In the hospital in which you primarily currently work, who primarily performs the following procedures?

Question Title

* 13. Which of the following do you consider essential skills for nephrologists?

Question Title

* 14. How adequate was your training in performing the following procedures?

Question Title

* 15. How many kidney biopsies did you perform on average in each year of advanced training?

Question Title

* 16. How many Vascaths did you place on average in each year of advanced training?

Question Title

* 17. Do you think some exposure to interventional nephrology (e.g. inserting Permcaths or peritoneal dialysis catheters) during nephrology advanced training should be mandatory?

Question Title

* 18. Do you think some exposure to acute kidney transplantation during nephrology advanced training should be mandatory?

Question Title

* 19. What was your desired practice in the first year of work following advanced training?

Question Title

* 20. What was your actual practice in the first year of work following advanced training?

Question Title

* 21. Would you have preferred more hours of clinical work each week than you were actually able, in the first year of work following advanced training?

Question Title

* 22. If your first year of practice after completion of nephrology advanced training involved higher degree research, why primarily was this chosen?

Question Title

* 23. Where was your desired practice in the first year of work following advanced training?

Question Title

* 24. Where was your actual practice in the first year of work following advanced training?

Question Title

* 25. Did you undertake dual training in nephrology and another medical speciality? If so, in what?

Question Title

* 26. If you underwent dual training in nephrology and another medical specialty, why primarily was this chosen?

Question Title

* 27. Would you prefer 2 years of core nephrology training and a 3rd elective year instead of the current 3 years of core nephrology advanced training?

Question Title

* 28. Would you like more fellowship positions in nephrology subspecialties to be offered for those that have completed nephrology advanced training?

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* 29. Do you have any other comments you wish to tell us about your training or employment? Please fill out the box below if you would like to.