{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T16:10:24Z","timestamp":1790266224765,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":18,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]],"date-time":"2026-06-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782777600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]],"date-time":"2026-06-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782777600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"name":"Unidade Local de Sa\u00fade de Santo Ant\u00f3nio"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pediatr Nephrol"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,11]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Subspecialty recognition and certification in Pediatric Nephrology remain heterogeneous across Europe and globally, resulting in variations in training standards and professional mobility. To address this gap, the European Society for Paediatric Nephrology (ESPN) launched the European Board Certification in 2020 as a pan-European and curriculum-based assessment of knowledge and clinical reasoning in Pediatric Nephrology.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We performed a descriptive and analytical evaluation of candidates who applied for the ESPN Board Certification in Pediatric Nephrology between 2020 and 2025. Candidate characteristics, examination performance, and factors associated with success were analyzed. The exam consisted of 100 case-based multiple-choice questions developed according to a predefined blueprint. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with passing. Additionally, a cross-sectional survey assessed candidates\u2019 perceptions of the examination and its professional impact.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      A total of 349 pediatric nephrologists from 52 countries and four continents completed the examination. Median age was 38.2\u00a0years (IQR 34.7\u201343.5), and 59.9% were female. The overall pass rate was 54.7%, with significant variation by continent (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20090.014). Attendance at the International Pediatric Nephrology Association (IPNA)-ESPN Junior Master Class was associated with higher odds of success (OR 3.76, 95% CI 1.65\u20135.87,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&lt;\u20090.001), whereas increasing age was associated with lower odds of success (OR 0.66 per additional year, 95% CI 0.55\u20130.78,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20090.002). Among 74 survey respondents, perceptions regarding the examination were highly positive: 93.2% considered the content clinically relevant, 89.2% reported increased self-confidence, and 75.6% perceived a positive professional impact.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Since its launch, the ESPN Board Examination has emerged as an internationally acknowledged benchmark of key knowledge and clinical reasoning in Pediatric Nephrology. Structured preparatory education enhances examination success, and certification is widely perceived as professionally meaningful. The examination plays a vital role in standardizing subspecialty criteria and reinforcing the professional identity within Pediatric Nephrology.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1007\/s00467-026-07436-x","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]],"date-time":"2026-06-29T22:22:38Z","timestamp":1782771758000},"page":"4177-4185","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The European Society of Pediatric Nephrology Board Examination\u2014a certified benchmark of knowledge and clinical practice with global recognition"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"41","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5211-2467","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana","family":"Teixeira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stella","family":"Stabouli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rezan","family":"Topaloglu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aysun Karabay","family":"Bayazit","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Olivia","family":"Boyer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dorota","family":"Drozdz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rukshana","family":"Shroff","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Martin","family":"Christian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zainab","family":"Arslan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Justine","family":"Bacchetta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jerome","family":"Harambat","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nikoleta","family":"Printza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Louise","family":"Oni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniella Levy","family":"Erez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Caroline","family":"Platt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dieter","family":"Haffner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jun","family":"Oh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elena","family":"Levtchenko","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"7436_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"471","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpeds.2015.03.031","volume":"167","author":"JHH Ehrich","year":"2015","unstructured":"Ehrich JHH, Tenore A, Del Torso S, Pettoello-Mantovani M, Lenton S, Grossman Z (2015) Diversity of pediatric workforce and education in 2012 in Europe: a need for unifying concepts or accepting enjoyable differences? J Pediatr 167:471-476.e4. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jpeds.2015.03.031","journal-title":"J Pediatr"},{"key":"7436_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1007\/s00467-019-04378-5","volume":"35","author":"L Prikhodina","year":"2020","unstructured":"Prikhodina L, Ehrich J, Shroff R, Topaloglu R, Levtchenko E, Anton-Gamero M (2020) The European Society for Paediatric Nephrology study of pediatric renal care in Europe: comparative analysis 1998\u20132017. Pediatr Nephrol 35:103\u2013111. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00467-019-04378-5","journal-title":"Pediatr Nephrol"},{"key":"7436_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3757","DOI":"10.1007\/s00467-023-06022-9","volume":"38","author":"MI McCulloch","year":"2023","unstructured":"McCulloch MI, Argent AC, Morrow B, Nourse P, Coetzee A, Du Buisson C et al (2023) Lessons learned from regional training of paediatric nephrology fellows in Africa. Pediatr Nephrol 38:3757\u20133768. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00467-023-06022-9","journal-title":"Pediatr Nephrol"},{"key":"7436_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"796","DOI":"10.1007\/s004670050551","volume":"12","author":"J Gr\u00fcnberg","year":"1998","unstructured":"Gr\u00fcnberg J (1998) Pediatric nephrology workforce in Latin America. Pediatr Nephrol 12:796\u2013798. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s004670050551","journal-title":"Pediatr Nephrol"},{"issue":"1","key":"7436_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"83","DOI":"10.1186\/s12882-016-0299-2","volume":"17","author":"D Glenn","year":"2016","unstructured":"Glenn D, Ocegueda S, Nazareth M, Zhong Y, Weinstein A, Primack W et al (2016) The global pediatric nephrology workforce: a survey of the International Pediatric Nephrology Association. BMC Nephrol 17:83. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12882-016-0299-2","journal-title":"BMC Nephrol"},{"key":"7436_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1177","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpeds.2015.07.060","volume":"167","author":"JHH Ehrich","year":"2015","unstructured":"Ehrich JHH, Kerbl R, Pettoello-Mantovani M, Lenton S (2015) Opening the debate on pediatric subspecialties and specialist centers: opportunities for better care or risks of care fragmentation? J Pediatr 167:1177-1178.e2. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jpeds.2015.07.060","journal-title":"J Pediatr"},{"key":"7436_CR7","unstructured":"Levtchenko E, Teixeira A, Topaloglu R (2019) European Training Requirements or Training in Paediatric Nephrology European Society for Paediatric Nephrology. Available from: https:\/\/www.espn-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Pediatric-Nephrology-ETR-approved-Dec-2019.pdf. Accessed 13 Feb 2026."},{"key":"7436_CR8","unstructured":"Levtchenko E, Teixeira A (2022) ESPN board examination in paediatric nephrology standard operation procedures (SOP) ESPN Steering Committee 2022\/05 Adopted by ESPN Council 2022 [Internet]. Available from: https:\/\/www.espn-online.org\/wp. Accessed 1\u00a0Feb 2026"},{"key":"7436_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3201","DOI":"10.1007\/s00467-023-05940-y","volume":"38","author":"A Teixeira","year":"2023","unstructured":"Teixeira A, Topaloglu R, Cochat P, Coppo R, Levtchenko E, Haffner D et al (2023) IPNA\u2013ESPN Junior Master Class\u2014a decade of successful continuing education and training in pediatric nephrology. Pediatr Nephrol 38:3201\u20133205. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00467-023-05940-y","journal-title":"Pediatr Nephrol"},{"key":"7436_CR10","unstructured":"European Society for Paediatric Nephrology. European Society for Paediatric Nephrology Clinical Practice guidelines [Internet]. [cited 2026 Feb 13]. Available from: https:\/\/www.espn-online.org\/guidelines\/. Accessed 1 Feb 2026"},{"key":"7436_CR11","unstructured":"International Pediatric Nephrology Association. Guidelines - IPNA Online - International Pediatric Nephrology Association [Internet]. [cited 2026 Feb 13]. Available from: https:\/\/theipna.org\/resources\/guidelines\/. Accessed 1 Feb 2026"},{"key":"7436_CR12","unstructured":"Pediatric Nephrology Journal. Home | Pediatric Nephrology | Springer Nature Link [Internet]. [cited 2026 Feb 13]. Available from: https:\/\/link.springer.com\/journal\/467. Accessed 1 Feb 2026"},{"key":"7436_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Emma F, Goldstein SL, Bagga A, Bates CM, Shroff R (2022) Pediatric nephrology: eighth edition. pp 1\u20132134. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-030-52719-8","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-52719-8"},{"key":"7436_CR14","unstructured":"Case SM, Swanson DB (2021) Constructing written test questions for the basic and clinical sciences.3rd Ed rev. Philadelphia: National Board of Medical Examiners."},{"key":"7436_CR15","unstructured":"Examfolio platform. Examfolio - exam planning and execution [Internet]. [cited 2026 Feb 13]. Available from: https:\/\/www.examfolio.com\/"},{"key":"7436_CR16","unstructured":"Angoff WH (1971) Scales, norms, and equivalent scores. In: Thorndike RL (ed) Educational Measurement. American Council on Education, Washington, DC, pp 508\u2013600"},{"key":"7436_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"671","DOI":"10.1007\/s00383-015-3719-7","volume":"31","author":"OJ Muensterer","year":"2015","unstructured":"Muensterer OJ, Bronstein ME, Mackenzie R, Snyder CW, Carachi R (2015) Factors associated with passing the European Board of Paediatric Surgery Exam. Pediatr Surg Int 31:671\u2013676. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00383-015-3719-7","journal-title":"Pediatr Surg Int"},{"key":"7436_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijgc.2025.104458","volume":"36","author":"PN Fallah","year":"2026","unstructured":"Fallah PN, Mburu A, Rangeiro R, Karmacharya S, Kalima-Munalula M, Estrada EE et al (2026) The International Gynecologic Cancer Society Global Fellowship Program: advancing access to gynecologic oncology and surgical care worldwide. Int J Gynecol Cancer 36:104458. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijgc.2025.104458","journal-title":"Int J Gynecol Cancer"}],"container-title":["Pediatric Nephrology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s00467-026-07436-x.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00467-026-07436-x","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s00467-026-07436-x.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T15:34:32Z","timestamp":1790264072000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/s00467-026-07436-x"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]]},"references-count":18,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,11]]}},"alternative-id":["7436"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00467-026-07436-x","relation":{},"ISSN":["0931-041X","1432-198X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0931-041X","type":"print"},{"value":"1432-198X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]]},"assertion":[{"value":"14 March 2026","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"7 June 2026","order":2,"name":"revised","label":"Revised","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"16 June 2026","order":3,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"30 June 2026","order":4,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"Chair: Elena Levtchenko (The Netherlands).Members: Dieter Haffner and Jun Oh (Germany), Rezan Topaloglu and Aysun Karabay Bayazit (Turkey), Ana Teixeira (Portugal), Olivia Boyer, Justine Bacchetta and Jerome Harambat (France), Stella Stabouli and Nikoleta Printza (Greece), Dorota Drozdz (Poland), Zainab Arslan, Louise Oni, Caroline Platt and Rukshana Shroff (UK) and Daniella Levy Erez (Israel).","order":1,"name":"Ethics","label":"The ESPN education committee","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","label":"Competing interests","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}}]}}