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Murphy VL, Chao P, Koea J, Srinivasa S. Systematic review of the efficacy and purpose of student surgical interest groups. ANZ J Surg 2023; 93:2580-2588. [PMID: 37861106 DOI: 10.1111/ans.18732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is concern around projected unmet need in the surgical workforce internationally. Current barriers to medical students pursuing surgical careers include lack of early exposure, low confidence in surgical skills, and perceived lifestyle barriers. This review aimed to examine both the purpose of student surgical interest groups (SIGs) globally, and their effect on metrics representing student surgical career interest. barriers. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched for papers analysing surgical interest group purpose and efficacy. Risk of bias was assessed for survey-based papers using a 20-point checklist. Descriptive analysis was performed based on qualitative data. RESULTS Twenty-eight papers were included in the analysis including 13 surveys. These were of moderate quality. The analysed SIGs had 100-1000 student members and a diverse range of funding sources. Purpose of SIGs was described by 26 of 28 papers with common themes including promotion of surgical career choice and developing theoretical/practical surgical skills. Common initiatives of SIGs included surgical lectures/teaching and practical skills workshops. Data from 15 papers analysing efficacy of SIGs suggested they positively influenced self-reported student interest in surgical careers (78.6%) and confidence in surgical knowledge (80%), as well as confidence in practical skills, knowledge about surgical careers/lifestyle, mentorship opportunity, and research involvement. CONCLUSION Student SIGs make a unique contribution to early medical student experience through positive effect on promoting surgical careers. They target relevant metrics such as surgical knowledge and confidence that are known to influence surgical career choice in the modern surgical landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Phillip Chao
- Department of Surgery, North Shore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan Koea
- Department of Surgery, North Shore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sanket Srinivasa
- Department of Surgery, North Shore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
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2
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Glossop SC, Bhachoo H, Murray TM, Cherif RA, Helo JY, Morgan E, Poacher AT. Undergraduate teaching of surgical skills in the UK: systematic review. BJS Open 2023; 7:zrad083. [PMID: 37819804 PMCID: PMC10566575 DOI: 10.1093/bjsopen/zrad083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Students must be proficient in surgical skills according to General Medical Council and Royal College of Surgeons of England guidelines. If these skills are not appropriately taught, there is a risk of an incoming junior workforce with inadequate surgical skills. This paper aimed to review the literature relating to undergraduate teaching of surgical skills in the UK and summarize future suggested training methods. METHODS The databases MEDLINE, Embase and SCOPUS were searched, and the existing literature relating to methodology of undergraduate teaching of surgical skills in the UK over the past 10 years was summarized. The Medical Education Research Quality Instrument was used to assess research quality. RESULTS A total of 19 papers were included. Cross-sectional evaluations and survey-based studies highlight a clear deficit in surgical skills teaching in the UK. Medical students are currently unable to fulfil their own learning needs and meet requirements set out by the General Medical Council. This lack of surgical teaching appears to negatively affect student desire to pursue a surgical career. The three main themes for improvement are extracurricular surgical skills days, near-peer teaching and simulation. Each method appeared to improve learning, although no studies utilized medium- to long-term follow-up to demonstrate efficacy and there lacks a clear consensus as to the 'standard' of undergraduate surgical skill education. There was also potential for selection bias and response shift bias in many of the studies assessing pre- and postintervention confidence and opinions. CONCLUSION There is a concerning lack of surgical skills teaching that has resulted in medical students and junior doctors not having the necessary surgical skills as per General Medical Council guidance and students feel that their own learning needs are not met. This failure to address the learning deficit may be responsible for the fall in surgical competition ratios. While surgical skills teaching must be improved urgently, more robust evidence is required to evaluate the optimal ways of approaching this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean C Glossop
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, UK
| | - Hari Bhachoo
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, UK
| | - Thomas M Murray
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, UK
| | - Rayan A Cherif
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, UK
| | - John Y Helo
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, UK
| | - Evie Morgan
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, UK
| | - Arwel T Poacher
- Department of Plastic Surgery, St Thomas’ Hospital, Guys and St Thomas’ Trust, London, UK
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3
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Pera M. Fostering interest in surgery in medical students: The experience of the Gimbernat Surgical Association. Cir Esp 2022; 100:461-463. [PMID: 35598843 DOI: 10.1016/j.cireng.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Pera
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Sección de Cirugía Gastrointestinal, Hospital Universitario del Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
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4
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Pera M. Fomentar en los estudiantes de medicina el interés por la cirugía: la experiencia de la Asociación Quirúrgica Gimbernat. Cir Esp 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ciresp.2021.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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5
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Albright P, Banks E, Wood L, Chambers C, Van Heest A. Orthopaedic Society Leadership Diversity and Academic Participation: Where Do We Stand Now? J Bone Joint Surg Am 2022; 104:e103. [PMID: 35833633 DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.21.01395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the United States, female and minority representation in the field of orthopaedic surgery remains low, and there are few reports regarding orthopaedic society leadership composition, selection criteria, and academic participation. We aimed to determine the demographic composition of national orthopaedic societies and report the academic participation metrics of leadership. METHODS This was a mixed-methods study using surveys and publicly available data from national orthopaedic societies for the 2020 to 2021 year. Twenty-four orthopaedic society websites were queried for their transparency in leadership selection and demographic information, including sex, racial, and ethnic composition of overall society and board membership. Data were collected regarding the academic participation of board leadership. RESULTS In total, 19 (79%) of the 24 national orthopaedic societies publish survey data regarding sex and racial demographics. One society elected not to participate, and there was no response from 4 others. Sixteen (89%) of the societies collect sex-related data from their membership, and 19 (100%) report sex-related data for their board members. Five (28%) collect data regarding the race and ethnicity of their general membership, and 10 (53%) report data regarding the race and ethnicity of board members. The average membership was 89% male and 11% female, and the leadership boards were 86% male and 14% female. In the societies that reported on race and ethnicity, on average, 80% of the members were White and 85% of the board members were White. Few societies (13%) publicly list their presidential nominating criteria, and none list their criteria for nonpresidential-line positions. Female sex and ≤10 years in practice were significantly associated with lower Hirsch index (h-index) scores, but these differences dissipated beyond 10 years. CONCLUSIONS There is a lack of sex, racial, and ethnic diversity in orthopaedic society leadership. More robust recording of these data by societies can help track improvements in diversity among members and leaders. Academic participation may be one component of leadership selection, but other factors play an important role. Overall transparency of leadership selection criteria could be clarified among orthopaedic societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Albright
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Evan Banks
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Lily Wood
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Caitlin Chambers
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota.,TRIA Orthopedic Center, Woodbury, Minnesota
| | - Ann Van Heest
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Chandrakumar C, Liang K, Pillay AR, Soundararajan S, Achan P. The impact of virtual medical student surgical conferences. Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 2021; 82:1-9. [PMID: 34817262 DOI: 10.12968/hmed.2021.0442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, the number of people pursuing a surgical career in the UK has decreased. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cancellation of surgical placements for medical students and has affected surgical education. This study evaluates the perceptions and impact of a 1-day virtual surgical conference for medical students considering pursuing a surgical career. METHODS All delegates of the 2021 Barts and The London International Surgical Conference were invited to participate in two online surveys pre- and post-conference. Data were collected and analysed to evaluate delegates' reasons for attending the conference, and attitudes towards virtual conferences and a surgical career before and after the conference. RESULTS Out of 132 participants, 106 (80.3%) completed both the pre- and post-conference surveys. Clinical students showed a statistically significant difference in interest in pursuing a surgical career after the conference than before (P=0.03), unlike pre-clinical students (P=0.12). Post-conference, 43 (40.6%) preferred a virtual to a face-to-face conference, which was a slight increase from 40 (37.7%) pre-conference, while 73 (68.9%) and 80 (75.5%) participants favoured virtual talks and presentations respectively. In contrast, only 12 (11.3%) and 21 (19.8%) students preferred workshops and networking virtually. Furthermore, delegates liked the global accessibility and environmentally-friendly nature of virtual conferences but found they can be less engaging and be disrupted by a poor internet connection. CONCLUSIONS Virtual surgical conferences have many benefits and can help encourage medical students towards a surgical career. They could help bridge the surgical educational gap in medical school during these unprecedented times. Virtual conferences, which have a broader and more inclusive reach, could be an important complement to conventional conferences after the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kaifeng Liang
- School of Medicine, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - A Raneesha Pillay
- School of Medicine, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Soundarya Soundararajan
- School of Medicine, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Pramod Achan
- Department of Orthopaedics, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
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7
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Deng M, Nham E, Malvea A, Ramsay T, Seabrook C, Watterson J. Exploring the Impact of the Surgical Exploration and Discovery (SEAD) Program on Medical Students' Perceptions of Gender Biases in Surgery: A Mixed-Method Evaluation. JOURNAL OF SURGICAL EDUCATION 2021; 78:1236-1249. [PMID: 33293258 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2020.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Female representation in surgery is increasing; however, many surgical specialties continue to observe disproportionately fewer females entering their residencies. This study assesses how medical students' gender-based perceptions of surgical careers are impacted by attending the Surgical Exploration and Discovery (SEAD) program, a 2-week, immersive procedural program that offers observerships, mentorship, and workshops across 8 surgical specialties. DESIGN In this mixed-method prospective cohort study, medical students' awareness, beliefs, and experiences of gender bias in surgery were assessed using a 10-item Gender Bias in Medical Students Assessment-Surgery (GBMSA-S) psychometric survey instrument inspired by the validated Gender Bias in Medical Education Scale (Parker et al., 2016). SETTING Undergraduate Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS Eighteen first-year medical students in the experimental group (8 male, 10 female) and 18 in the control group (7 male, 11 female). RESULTS Compared to the control group, SEAD participants had significant changes in agreement with the statements: "surgery is male-dominated," "medical studies are mainly done in males," "gender discrimination is more pronounced in surgery than other medical professions," "consideration of my gender is an important factor in whether or not to pursue surgery as a career," and "I have encountered gender-biased attitudes and/or behaviors among non-physician health care staff" (p < 0.05). Perceptions of gender bias were reduced post-SEAD. Subgroup analysis by gender suggested that the significance of these changing perspectives was due to female participants' responses. SEAD also produced an increase in the level of interest in surgery (p = 0.04). Receptive and authentic dialogue was identified as a critical step toward social inclusivity (n = 11). CONCLUSIONS Early surgical exposure through SEAD produces a statistically significant increase in surgical interest and reduces certain perceptions of gender bias in surgery, particularly among female medical students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mimi Deng
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Emily Nham
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anahita Malvea
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tim Ramsay
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christine Seabrook
- University of Ottawa Skills and Simulation Centre, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - James Watterson
- Department of Surgery, Eric C. Poulin Office of Surgical Education at University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, The Ottawa Hospital - General Campus, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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8
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Sutherland M, Sen-Crowe B, McKenney M, Elkbuli A. Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Surgical Societies: Representation Matters. Ann Surg 2021; 273:e166-e167. [PMID: 33156072 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000004587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mason Sutherland
- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Kendall Regional Medical Center, Miami, Florida
| | - Brendon Sen-Crowe
- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Kendall Regional Medical Center, Miami, Florida
| | - Mark McKenney
- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Kendall Regional Medical Center, Miami, Florida
- Department of Surgery, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Adel Elkbuli
- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Kendall Regional Medical Center, Miami, Florida
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9
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Wells CI, Fitzpatrick SE, Chan E, Ridley W, Hanney RM. Australasian Students' Surgical Association: development, progress and future directions. ANZ J Surg 2020; 89:629-630. [PMID: 31179632 DOI: 10.1111/ans.15178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cameron I Wells
- Australasian Students' Surgical Association.,Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Siobhan E Fitzpatrick
- Australasian Students' Surgical Association.,Department of Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Erick Chan
- Australasian Students' Surgical Association.,Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - William Ridley
- Australasian Students' Surgical Association.,Department of Surgery, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Richard M Hanney
- School of Rural Medicine, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
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10
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Vakayil V, Chandrashekar M, Hedberg J, Bauman BD, Malik S, Yerxa D, Hendrickson LG, Kernahan P, Hadley ME, Harmon JV. An Undergraduate Surgery Interest Group: Introducing Premedical Students to the Practice of Surgery. ADVANCES IN MEDICAL EDUCATION AND PRACTICE 2020; 11:339-349. [PMID: 32494212 PMCID: PMC7231780 DOI: 10.2147/amep.s245234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Early exposure and surgical mentorship can augment interest in surgery. We evaluate the effect and feasibility of offering education and mentorship opportunities in surgery to premedical students at our institution through an undergraduate surgery interest group (USIG). MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a 1-year assessment of our USIG and reviewed its organizational structure, funding resources, media promotion, and educational activities. Our USIG hosted introductory-level surgical skills workshops, guest lectures by surgeons, and various facility tours. To assess participants' interests, as well as the influences on them to pursue a surgical profession, we analyzed pre- and post-event questionnaires. Similar questionnaires were completed by medical students in our medical student surgery interest group to compare any differences in perception between premedical and medical students. RESULTS Our USIG currently has 378 undergraduate student members, with a higher proportion of women than in our medical student surgery interest group (P < 0.003). Neurosurgery was the most popular career choice among undergraduate participants. Participants reported the highest satisfaction with suturing and high-fidelity trauma surgery skills workshops. Undergraduate participants indicated that their intrinsic interest in the sciences is the highest motivation to pursue a surgical profession. Resident lifestyle and social obligations of a surgical career were actually positive influences for undergraduate participants; in contrast, medical students viewed those variables as negative factors. CONCLUSION Our USIG was met with enthusiasm by premedical students and faculty alike. Participation strengthened premedical students' interest in pursuing surgery and increased their understanding of the surgical profession. Early mentorship may positively influence premedical students' perception of surgical careers. USIG is economically feasible and time-efficient; we encourage other academic institutions and educators to consider investing in similar interest groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Vakayil
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Jack Hedberg
- College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Brent D Bauman
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Shray Malik
- College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Derek Yerxa
- College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Lois G Hendrickson
- Owen H. Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Peter Kernahan
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Owen H. Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Megan E Hadley
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - James V Harmon
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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11
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Arwyn-Jones J, Bhalla S, Acharya V, Beegun I, Awad Z, Tolley N. Specialty Showcase Days: Can Specialist Careers Workshops Improve The Consideration Of ENT For Medical Students? ADVANCES IN MEDICAL EDUCATION AND PRACTICE 2019; 10:877-884. [PMID: 31695550 PMCID: PMC6814352 DOI: 10.2147/amep.s224925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We hypothesize that poor consideration of specialist surgery is due to a lack of exposure to information about careers and practice itself. Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgery is given little weight in medical school curricula, despite ENT problems being extremely common. Our objective is to assess whether a specialty showcase day was sufficient to boost informed consideration of this career. DESIGN We designed a half-day course involving an interactive careers workshop exploring ENT as a specialty choice, alongside simulation stations of commonly presenting ENT problems led by ENT doctors. We used pre- and post-course evaluation sheets to explore factors that encourage and discourage students from surgical careers and perceptions of ENT. SETTING A large proportion of UK medical schools do not offer ENT placements, and of those that do, nearly half are not compulsory. This leaves students unaware of ENT as a career option and unclear about what an ENT career comprises. Our half-day course took place in the simulation suite at St Mary's Hospital, London. PARTICIPANTS Medical students were mainly in their third year of study and had aspirations towards a variety of surgical and non-surgical careers, with a minority aspiring towards ENT before the course. RESULTS Our results demonstrate that all students found the session useful and had a much better understanding of ENT practice, with almost all students leaving more likely to consider a career in ENT. CONCLUSION We would like to repeat this session in different student year groups and compare their perceptions with our results. We find our results a good case for including informative careers workshops as part of medical school teaching. We pose that interactive workshops exploring specialist surgical careers are a valid way to enable students in making informed career decisions - particularly in specialties that are under-represented at medical school.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Arwyn-Jones
- Otolaryngology Department, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, The Bays, LondonW2 1NY, UK
| | - Sanjana Bhalla
- Otolaryngology Department, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, The Bays, LondonW2 1NY, UK
| | - Vikas Acharya
- Otolaryngology Department, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, The Bays, LondonW2 1NY, UK
| | - Issa Beegun
- Otolaryngology Department, Barts Health NHS Trust, Trust Headquarters, The Royal London Hospital, London, E1 2ES, UK
| | - Zaid Awad
- Otolaryngology Department, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, The Bays, LondonW2 1NY, UK
| | - Neil Tolley
- Otolaryngology Department, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, The Bays, LondonW2 1NY, UK
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Lazow SP, Venn RA, Lubor B, Kocharian G, Kreines FM, Gilbert E, Marnell CS, Cricco-Lizza E, Cooley V, Christos P, Dakin GF. The PreOp Program: Intensive Preclinical Surgical Exposure is Associated With Increased Medical Student Surgical Interest and Competency. JOURNAL OF SURGICAL EDUCATION 2019; 76:1278-1285. [PMID: 31005481 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2019.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE As medical students' interest in surgical fields wanes, we investigated the impact of a preclinical surgical exposure program on students' attitudes toward pursuing surgical careers. DESIGN This is a prospective longitudinal study of PreOp, a preclinical rotation-based surgical exposure program for first-year medical students, from 2013 to 2017. Surveys assessed PreOp rotation quality, students' surgical interest, and students' self-reported preparedness for the surgical clerkship. Surgery clerkship grades were obtained as a measure of surgical competency and compared to class-wide peers. Match data was collected and compared to class-wide peers as well as historical norms. SETTING NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY; tertiary care center. PARTICIPANTS Fifty-four PreOp students from 2013 to 2017. RESULTS Fifty-four PreOp participants were recruited. After completing the PreOp program, 66.7% of PreOp students reported being very likely to apply into a surgical field compared to 29.4% when they started medical school. Ultimately, 71.4% of PreOp students versus 21.7% of non-PreOp class-wide peers matched into surgical fields (p < 0.001). From the preceding 5 match years before PreOp implementation, 21.4% of all students matched into surgical fields compared to 25.6% of all students after PreOp was started (p = 0.26). In terms of preparedness, 75% of PreOp students reported feeling more prepared for the third-year surgery clerkship than their non-PreOp peers after the second year of medical school. PreOp students were significantly more likely than non-PreOp class-wide peers to receive honors in the surgery clerkship when controlling for cumulative clerkship GPA (p = 0.012, adjusted odds ratio = 5.5 [95% confidence interval 1.5-22.1]). CONCLUSIONS Hands-on preclinical surgical exposure was associated with student-reported increased surgical interest that was maintained longitudinally and reflected in significantly increased surgical matches relative to non-PreOp class-wide peers. This study uniquely demonstrates that participation in PreOp was also associated with increased self-reported surgical preparedness and significantly higher surgery clerkship grades relative to overall academic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Victoria Cooley
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Paul Christos
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Gregory F Dakin
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York; Department of Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York.
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13
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Samarth G. Correspondence. Br J Surg 2019; 106:653. [DOI: 10.1002/bjs.11122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- G Samarth
- Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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14
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Song JSA, McGuire C, Vaculik M, Morzycki A, Plourde M. Cross sectional analysis of student-led surgical societies in fostering medical student interest in Canada. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2019; 19:77. [PMID: 30849966 PMCID: PMC6408764 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-019-1502-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to examine how surgery interest groups (SIGs) across Canada function and influence medical students' interest in surgical careers. METHODS Two unique surveys were distributed using a cross sectional design. The first was sent to SIG executives and the second to SIG members enrolled at a Canadian medical school in the 2016/17 academic year. The prior focused on the types of events hosted, SIG structure/ supports, and barriers/ plans for improvement. The second questionnaire focused on student experience, involvement, and suggestions for improvement. RESULTS SIG executives became involved in SIG through classmates and colleagues (8/17, 47%). Their roles focused on organizing events (17/17, 100%), facilitating student contact with resident/surgeons (17/17, 100%), and organizing funding (13/17, 76%). Surgical skills events were among the most successful and well received by students (15/17, 88%). Major barriers faced by SIG executives during their tenure included time conflicts with other interest groups (13/17, 76%), lack of funding (8/17, 47%), and difficulty booking spaces for events (8,17, 47%). SIGs were found to facilitate improvement in basic surgical skills (μ = 3.89/5 ± 0.70) in a comfortable environment (μ = 4.02/5, ±0.6), but were not helpful with final block examinations (μ = 2.98/5, ±0.80). Members indicated that more skills sessions, panel discussion and shadowing opportunities would be beneficial additions. Overall, members felt that SIGs increased their interest in surgical careers (μ = 3.50/5, ±0.79). CONCLUSION Canadian SIGs not only play a critical role in early exposure, but may provide a foundation to contribute to student success in surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Soo A. Song
- Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
| | - Connor McGuire
- Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
- Dalhousie Medical School, 5850 College St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 1X5 Canada
| | - Michael Vaculik
- Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
| | | | - Madelaine Plourde
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
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15
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Twigg V, Aldridge K, McNally SA, Eardley I. Does choice of medical school affect a student’s likelihood of becoming a surgeon? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1308/rcsbull.2018.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Surgeons are an integral provider of elective and emergency secondary care in the UK. However, the supply of surgeons is struggling to keep up with the demand; for at least the past four years, there have remained unfilled core surgical training (CST) posts despite other specialties (eg radiology, public health medicine and ophthalmology) achieving consistent 100% fill rates. 1 , 2
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Affiliation(s)
- V Twigg
- Royal College of Surgeons of England
| | - K Aldridge
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
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16
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Faucett EA, McCrary HC, Milinic T, Hassanzadeh T, Roward SG, Neumayer LA. The role of same-sex mentorship and organizational support in encouraging women to pursue surgery. Am J Surg 2017; 214:640-644. [PMID: 28716310 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2017.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Revised: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While women represent approximately half of all medical students, only 38% of general surgery residents are women. The objective of this study is to explore how access to mentors and organizational support affects career choices. METHODS In June of 2016, a survey was sent to medical students at a single institution (n = 472). Questions utilized a 5-point Likert scale. A two-sample t-test was used to evaluate data. RESULTS A total of 160 students participated in the survey. Among MS1/MS2 students, women were more likely to rank same-sex role models as a positive influence (mean 3.1 vs. 2.4; p < 0.05). Similar results were seen among MS3/MS4 students (mean 3.6 vs. 2.5; p < 0.05). More women ranked the presence of organizations that support women in surgery as being important (mean 4.6 vs. 4.1; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Exposure to same-sex mentors was highly rated among female participants. These findings encourage the creation of national mentorship programs. Early involvement in organizations can positively influence career choice. Addressing gaps in mentorship opportunities and widening accessibility to national organizations are important in reducing barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tijana Milinic
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Simin G Roward
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Leigh A Neumayer
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Tucson, AZ, USA
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17
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Ologunde R, Rabiu AR, Li MM, Koh D, Boffard KD. Running a successful trainee conference. CLINICAL TEACHER 2017; 14:159-163. [PMID: 28497514 DOI: 10.1111/tct.12660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rele Ologunde
- Oxford University Clinical Academic Graduate School, University of Oxford, UK
| | | | - Mimi M Li
- Department of General Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - Don Koh
- Trauma & Orthopaedics, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Kenneth D Boffard
- Department of Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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18
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Sideris M, Papalois A, Theodoraki K, Dimitropoulos I, Johnson EO, Georgopoulou EM, Staikoglou N, Paparoidamis G, Pantelidis P, Tsagkaraki I, Karamaroudis S, Potoupnis ME, Tsiridis E, Dedeilias P, Papagrigoriadis S, Papalois V, Zografos G, Triantafyllou A, Tsoulfas G. Promoting Undergraduate Surgical Education: Current Evidence and Students' Views on ESMSC International Wet Lab Course. J INVEST SURG 2016; 30:71-77. [PMID: 27611894 DOI: 10.1080/08941939.2016.1220652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Undergraduate Surgical Education is becoming an essential element in the training of the future generation of safe and efficient surgeons. Essential Skills in the Management of Surgical Cases (ESMSC), is an international, joint applied surgical science and simulation-based learning wet lab course. METHODS We performed a review of the existing literature on the topic of undergraduate surgical education. Following that, we analyzed the feedback questionnaire received 480 from 2 recent series of ESMSC courses (May 2015, n = 49 and November 2015, n = 40), in order to evaluate European Union students' (UK, Germany, Greece) views on the ESMSC course, as well as on the undergraduate surgical education. Results Using a 10 point graded scale, the overall ESMSC concept was positively evaluated, with a mean score of 9.41 ± 0.72 (range: 8-10) and 8.94 ± 1.1 (range: 7-10). The majority of delegates from both series [9.86 ± 0.43 (range: 8-10) and 9.58 ± 0.91 (range: 6-10), respectively] believed that ESMSC should be incorporated in the undergraduate surgical curriculum. Comparison of responses from the UK to the Greek Medical Student, as well as the findings from the third and fourth year versus the fifth and sixth year Medical Students, revealed no statistically significant differences pertaining to any of the questions (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Current evidence in the literature supports the enhancement of surgical education through the systematic use of various modalities that provide Simulation-Based Training (SBT) hands-on experience, starting from the early undergraduate level. The findings of the present study are in agreement with these previous reports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail Sideris
- a NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow ST1 level , The London Deanery, Queen Mary's University London (QMUL) , London , UK , Lead of the ESMSC Project
| | - Apostolos Papalois
- b Equal Contribution with 1st Author, Director of the Experimental Research Centre ELPEN , Lead of the ESMSC Project
| | | | - Ioannis Dimitropoulos
- d Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrine Medicine , Plymouth Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
| | - Elizabeth O Johnson
- e Associate Professor of Anatomy , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael E Potoupnis
- h Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH)
| | - Eleftherios Tsiridis
- i Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH)
| | | | - Savvas Papagrigoriadis
- k Consultant Colorectal Surgeon , King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Surgery, King's College London , London , UK
| | - Vassilios Papalois
- l Consultant Transplant Surgeon , Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK, Professor of Surgery , Imperial College , London , UK
| | - Georgios Zografos
- m Professor of Surgery, Vice Rector , University of Athens, Director of 1st Surgical Department , Hippocratio General Hospital, Athens , Greece
| | | | - Georgios Tsoulfas
- o Assistant Professor of Surgery , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH)
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Al Omran Y, Chandrakumar C, Jawad A, Ahmed S, Ghanem AM. The impact of medical student surgical conferences. CLINICAL TEACHER 2016; 14:32-36. [DOI: 10.1111/tct.12480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yasser Al Omran
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry London UK
| | | | - Ali Jawad
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry London UK
| | - Shafi Ahmed
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry London UK
| | - Ali M Ghanem
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry London UK
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