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Medical Training Survey delivers many positives - but long hours, bullying and harassment are serious concerns for Doctors in training

Australia's first-ever national medical training survey has revealed that most trainees rate their training very highly, but many are still unacceptably experiencing excessive hours, heavy workload, bullying, harassment, or discrimination. 

“The survey, which focused on doctors undertaking pre-vocational and vocational training, revealed that most trainees rated the quality of their training and clinical supervision very highly, and would also recommend their current training post. Nearly all of them intend to continue with their training program", said Dr Tony Bartone, AMA President.

"However safe working hours are still an issue for the profession, with one in eight trainees working at least 60 hours on average per week,” Dr Bartone said.

“This is particularly worrying given the clear recent Australian research showing that doctors in training who work more than 55 hours each week have double the risk of developing mental health problems and suicidal ideation.

“One in five doctors in training (22 per cent) felt they had personally experienced bullying, harassment, and/or discrimination in their workplace in the last 12 months.

“This is an area that needs a continued focus to stamp out unacceptable behaviours in the workplace."

The AMA will use the MTS data to seek necessary and meaningful change for trainees in the workplace and with their training bodies.

Read the AMA media release here.

Go to the Medical Training Survey results here.

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