Specialty training system in Poland in 2011-2018 according to the Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education register data

The specialty training system in Poland is subject to constant changes on the formal and legal as well as qualitative and quantitative levels. These changes should be analysed on an ongoing basis to assess the directions of development of education for medical specialists. Objective of the paper: The study aimed to determine the quantitative changes taking place in the system of specialty training of physicians in general and in ten most numerous fields of medicine in the years 2011-2018. Material and methods: Data from the register of physicians undergoing specialty training conducted by the Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education from 2011 to 2018 constituted the material for analysis. The analysis of the material was of quantitative character. The data analysis was performed using the Statistica 12 Software (TIBCO Software Inc., Palo Alto, CA, the USA). Results: The analysis of data from the register of physicians undergoing specialty training indicates that the number of physicians who trained to be specialists and the percentage of women in the group increased in the years 2011-2018. In the period in question, the percentage of doctors in training within a residency, the number of specialty training providers the number of training places and the use of training places enabling them to pursue specialisation rose as well. The situation differed between 10 specialties analysed. Conclusions: The system of post-graduate education of physicians in Poland in the years 2011-2018 constantly developed and increasingly took advantage of most of its opportunities.