Academic careers in general practice: scientific requirements in Europe

This paper, based on a survey of all 25 council members of the European Academy of Teachers in General Practice (EURACT), describes requirements for scientific qualification in general practice. The career tracks for becoming a professor are different throughout Europe and the criteria to enter a research programme or to start a doctorate are diverse. Three models of academic careers have emerged: (1) career development following no formalised path (e.g. in Israel); (2) a ‘liberal’ model requiring a thesis (e.g. in Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK); (3) a formal procedure (habilitation) which requires completed vocational training, a number of high-quality research publications, some years of teaching experience, and a successful thesis (e.g. in Croatia, Germany, Hungary). In most European countries, research doctorates with an MD or PhD degree usually precede an appointment as professor of general practice. Although strengthening the scientific base of general practice is necessary to improve the reputation of the discipline, a liberal model for entry into an academic career may offer the best opportunities to combine academic work with primary care for general practitioners (GPs) in European countries.     

Undergraduate medical education: tendencies and requirements in a rapidly developing Europe

This study pinpoints the necessity to constantly monitor local approaches in undergraduate medical education on an inter-European scale. Traditional undergraduate medical curricula need restructuring to account for the increasing amount of medical knowledge and rapid changes and developments in societies, nosology, therapy and IT. European undergraduate medical curricula should be harmonized not egalized, with a focus on inter-European sharing of resources, mobility, credit (allocation, accumulation and transfer), definition of European and trans-European mission statements, identification of quality metrics, advice on dealing with conflicting aims such as specialization and generalization, on communicating core knowledge instead of providing overabundance of information, and on introducing multifaceted teaching and learning methods, as well as providing strategies for life long learning. Sound medical education can no longer and nowhere be considered under the autonomous auspices of individual Medical Schools or national philosophies. It has to be perceived and structured as a competitive and flexible approach which promotes life long learning of teachers, students, physicians and other related staff with international awareness. It is stressed that student and staff mobility, as well as virtual mobility in the form of worldwide available teaching modules and expertise have to be incorporated into national medical curricula. This is to guarantee up-to-date education in support of patient demands, future professionality and competitiveness of students, physicians and Public Health System institutions. The formal approaches of traditional subject related curricula as well as problem based learning must be linked with quality approved state of the art ODL, evaluated international CME strategies and training in the utilization of IT in preparation of lifelong learning. Strategies for the use of IT need updating on a regular basis to diminish the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. General European perspectives of medical education are discussed in relation to ECTS, ODL, compulsory credited and evaluated CME and relicensing of physicians. Prime features of ETM--the most reputed and well-known European medical CME initiative fostering quality assured international awareness are described and recommended for local and nationwide implementation. Specific links of the Bonn undergraduate medical curriculum with credited and evaluated CME and imminent European strategies are detailed. The authors conclude that European universities not adapting at least some of the outlined curricular necessities will rapidly lose their competitiveness compared to other national and international Medical Schools. Harmonized European ethical mission statements and consequent utilization of IT deserve special considerations in this context.     

Folate metabolism and requirements

Folate functions in multiple coenzyme forms in acceptance, redox processing and transfer of one-carbon units, including nucleotides and certain amino acids. Folate-requiring metabolic processes are influenced by folate intake, intake of other essential nutrients, including vitamins B-12 and B-6, and at least one common genetic polymorphism. Estimates of folate requirements have been based on intakes associated with maintenance of normal plasma and erythrocyte folate concentrations and functional tests that reflect abnormalities in folate-dependent reactions. Dietary Reference Intakes for folate that have been developed recently are based primarily on metabolic studies in which erythrocyte folate concentration was considered the major indicator of adequacy. For adults >/=19 y, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 400 microg/d of dietary folate equivalents (DFE); for lactating and pregnant women, the RDAs include an additional 100 and 200 microg of DFE/d, respectively.     

Europe and Working Life

Abstract

Working life in Europe is presented as a focus of both research and practice in science and politics, and as the unifying element behind a series of initiatives for the new millennium, at local, regional, national, European, and international levels. Partnership, dialog, and networking are both the medium and the message, with human networking as a precondition for the effective use of information and communication technologies. The European approach to working life is seen as setting new agendas at the international level, deriving collaborative advantage from diversity. The article is written in the context of the major Swedish European Presidency Conference, Work Life 2000: Quality in Work, held in January 2001, where the outcomes of European research were presented for consideration by decision makers, resulting in new practical programs. The conference was preceded by 64 preparatory workshops, building a network of 1,000 researchers.     

Europe and working life

Working life in Europe is presented as a focus of both research and practice in science and politics, and as the unifying element behind a series of initiatives for the new millennium, at local, regional, national, European, and international levels. Partnership, dialog, and networking are both the medium and the message, with human networking as a precondition for the effective use of information and communication technologies. The European approach to working life is seen as setting new agendas at the international level, deriving collaborative advantage from diversity. The article is written in the context of the major Swedish European Presidency Conference, Work Life 2000: Quality in Work, held in January 2001, where the outcomes of European research were presented for consideration by decision makers, resulting in new practical programs. The conference was preceded by 64 preparatory workshops, building a network of 1,000 researchers.