BACKGROUND: This survey evaluated the effects of the recognition of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition (PGHN) on European PGHN training centers. METHOD: Standardized questionnaires were collected from training centers via the presidents/representatives of the National Societies Network of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, from June 2016 to December 2019. RESULTS: A total of 100 training centers from 19 countries participated in the survey: 55 from 12 countries where PGHN is formally recognized (Group 1) and 45 from 7 countries where it is not (Group 2). Training centers in Group 2 were less likely to have an integrated endoscopy suite, a written training curriculum and a training lead (P=0.059, P<0.001 and P=0.012, respectively). Trainees in Group 2 were less likely to be exposed to an adequate number of diagnostic endoscopies, while no differences were found in relation to liver biopsies. Half of the training centers in both Groups do not have dedicated beds for PGHN patients, while in 64% and 58%, respectively, trainees do not participate in on-call programs for PGHN emergencies. Research training is mandatory in 26% of the centers. The duration of training, as well as the assessment and accreditation policies, vary between countries. CONCLUSIONS: This study has revealed significant discrepancies and gaps in infrastructure and training programs, training leadership, and assessment of training and certification across European training centers in PGHN. Strategies to support the recognition of PGHN and to standardize and improve training conditions should be developed and implemented.An infographic is available for this article at: http://www.annalsgastro.gr/files/journals/1/earlyview/2022/Infographic_AG-6496.pdf.

Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Birmingham United Kingdom

Department of Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition Ljubljana University Children's Hospital Ljubljana Slovenia

Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Emma Children's Hospital Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands

Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital Rotterdam The Netherlands

Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology Leuven University Hospital Leuven Belgium

Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine University Medical Center Ulm Ulm Germany

Department of Pediatrics Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Greece

Department of Pediatrics Medical University of Graz Graz Austria

Department of Pediatrics Saint Marina University hospital Varna Bulgaria

Department of Pediatrics University Hospital Motol Prague Czech Republic

Department of Translational Medical Science Section of Pediatrics University of Naples Federico 2 Naples Italy

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 1st Department of Pediatrics University of Athens Children's Hospital Agia Sofia Athens Greece

Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition University Children's Hospital Basel Switzerland

Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology Department of Pediatrics Ankara University School of Medicine Ankara Turkey

Gastroenterology Hepatology and Liver Transplant Queensland Children's Hospital Brisbane Australia

LMU Ludwig Maximilians Universität Munich Dept Pediatrics Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital LUM University Hospitals Munich Germany

Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit Department of Pediatrics Hadassah University Hospitals Jerusalem Israel

Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit La Fe University Hospital Valencia Spain

Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit University Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda Madrid Spain

Pediatric Institute Clinic University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary

Pediatric Liver Center King's College Hospital London United Kingdom

Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Sheffield United Kingdom

Unit of Gastroenterology Hepatology Nutrition Diabetes and Inborn Errors of Metabolism Children Hospital Toulouse University Hospital Toulouse France

University Hospital Center Zagreb Division for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition and University of Zagreb School of Medicine Zagreb Croatia

Vilnius University Clinic of Children's Diseases Vilnius Lithuania

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