Background: Training of postgraduate medical specialty program managers (PMSPM) is essential for the proper development of their programs.
Aim: To identify the main training needs of PMSPM at a medical school.
Material and methods: A mixed-methodology approach was implemented including focus group/interviews and the administration of the Program Managers Training Needs Assessment Questionnaire (PROMANAQ) developed by an expert panel with 59 items (with two sections: relevance/performance-self-perception). Higher priority was assigned to items with high relevance and low performance.
Results: Forty five PMSPM completed the PROMANAQ (81.8% response rate). Both sections of PROMANAQ were highly reliable (Cronbach alpha of 0.95/0.97 for relevance/performance-self-perception, respectively). The items with higher priority value were evaluation of clinical educators, evaluation of teaching programs and accreditation of programs. Ten PMSPM were included in the focus group (18.2% of the universe). The findings of the qualitative component were concordant with the areas explored in the questionnaire.
Conclusions: The PROMANAQ is valid and reliable to identify the training needs of PMSPM. The views of PMSPM must be taken into account for faculty development planning.