Postgraduate education for neurologists in hospitals authorized by the Japanese Society of Neurology]

To evaluate postgraduate education for neurologists, we performed a questionnaire-based investigation in hospitals authorized by the Japanese Society of Neurology. The response rate to the questionnaire was 91%. The number of board-certified neurologists is usually less than 5, even in the authorized teaching hospitals. Most respondents thought that the postgraduate training programs already existing in many teaching hospitals are insufficient, but nevertheless useful. More staff may be needed for postgraduate education in neurology. The respondents considered that neurological education has generally functioned well, except in certain areas such as brain death judgment. On the other hand, the rotation of training in neurosurgery, psychiatry and child neurology is still inadequate. The problem of devising a suitable training rotation system in postgraduate education for neurologists has not yet been solved.