RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The New Integrated Nuclear Medicine and Radiology Residency Program in The Netherlands: Why Do Residents Choose to Subspecialize in Nuclear Medicine and Why Not?
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine
JO J Nucl Med
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP 905
OP 909
DO 10.2967/jnumed.120.261503
VO 62
IS 7
A1 Ton Velleman
A1 Walter Noordzij
A1 Rudi A.J.O. Dierckx
A1 Yfke Ongena
A1 Thomas C. Kwee
YR 2021
UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/62/7/905.abstract
AB Our purpose was to explore the reasons that a resident chooses to enter the nuclear medicine subspecialty in the integrated nuclear medicine and radiology residency program in The Netherlands. Methods: A web questionnaire was developed and distributed among residents in the Dutch integrated nuclear medicine and radiology training program. Results: In total, 114 residents were included. The survey results revealed 4 categories of incentives to choose the nuclear medicine subspecialty: the expertise of nuclear medicine physicians and their quality of supervision in the training hospital; opportunities to do scientific research during and after residency; the diversity of pathologic conditions, radiotracers, examinations, and therapies in the training hospital; and the expectation that the role of hybrid imaging will increase in the future. The results also revealed 4 groups of disincentives to choose the nuclear medicine subspecialty: lack of collaboration and integration between nuclear medicine and radiology in some training hospitals; imbalance between nuclear medicine and radiology during the first 2.5 y of basic training during residency at the expense of nuclear medicine; uncertainty regarding the international recognition of nuclear medicine subspecialty training; and the uncertain future of nuclear medicine regarding the chances for employment and the ratio of nuclear medicine to radiology work activities. Conclusion: This study provided insight into residents’ motives in pursuing or refraining from nuclear medicine subspecialization in an integrated nuclear medicine and radiology residency program. Medical imaging specialists in training hospitals and developers of curricula for nuclear medicine and radiology training should take these motives into account to ensure a sufficient outflow of newly graduated nuclear medicine specialists.