Reappraising Neurosurgical Residency in Nepal-Stepping Stone for Paradigm Shift from Its Current Perspectives

Neurosurgery training in Nepal: then and now

Introduction

Neurosurgery training lacks uniformity across the world. Differences in the methods of training adopted during the training period is one of the major problems encountered in the field of neurosurgery all over the world. Moreover, neurosurgery is not "one neurosurgery"; in other words, it is not a unified whole.

Material and methods

In this study, we attempt to evaluate the present conditions of neurosurgery training in Nepal by exploring different institutions providing the training.

Results

Due to various factors and challenges, the neurosurgery training provided in Nepal varies in different institutions. Many travel abroad for training due to a lack of sufficient seats in training institutions.

Discussion and conclusions

Despite the challenges, the future is bright for neurosurgery training in Nepal. With continued investment in education and training, and the adoption of new technologies and techniques, it is likely that the field of neurosurgery will continue to thrive and make a positive impact on the health and well-being of the Nepali population.

Neurosurgery in Nepal: Past, Present, and Future

Neurosurgery in Nepal is now more than half a century old. Though Nepalese neurosurgical roots can be traced back to ancient times, modern services began in Nepal only after 1990 following the arrival of Dr. Upendra Devkota-the father of Nepalese neurosurgery. Contributions from many reputable global advisors as well as local leaders have yielded many changes to the field ever since. Despite these advancements, neurosurgical care in Nepal is mostly limited to the capital city of Kathmandu, and there remains a deficit of qualified neurosurgeons. Geographical dissemination of neurosurgical care, reappraisal of residency training programs, and initiation of subspecialty-based neurosurgical practices are the next steps to further improve the field in Nepal.

Women in Neurosurgery Around the World: A Systematic Review and Discussion of Barriers, Training, Professional Development, and Solutions

BACKGROUND

Women have been a minority in neurosurgery since the foundation of the specialty. Women who choose to pursue neurosurgery or advance in their career must overcome various obstacles. In this article, we discuss the proportion of women in neurosurgery globally and the obstacles they face, as well as the solutions being implemented.

METHODS

A systematic review of studies concerning international women in neurosurgery was conducted. Article inclusion was assessed based on relevance to women of neurosurgery, geographic region, date, and classification (rates/data, barriers, or solutions).

RESULTS

From the specified search, 127 articles were retrieved, and 27 met the inclusion criteria. Of the total, 25 countries were represented and discussed in the articles. Primary classification of articles resulted in 50 for data/rates, 22 for barriers, and 17 for possible solutions.

DISCUSSION

Despite cultural differences among unique regions of the globe, women face similar challenges when pursuing neurosurgery, such as difficulty advancing their careers, balancing duties at work and at home, meeting social and cultural expectations, and finding support and mentorship. Encouragingly, measures are already being implemented worldwide to allow women to fulfill their multiple other roles through maternity leave policies, increasing their access to mentors, and enabling promotions throughout their careers.

CONCLUSIONS

With the shortage of neurosurgeons in many regions of the world, the recruitment of female neurosurgeons plays a vital role in meeting those demands. Our cultures and professional societies should celebrate their inclusion and promotion and accommodate the complex role of women as neurosurgeons, mothers, partners, scientists, and leaders.

Women neurosurgeons around the world: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Gender disparities in neurosurgery have persisted even as the number of female medical students in many countries has risen. An understanding of the current gender distribution of neurosurgeons around the world and the possible factors contributing to country-specific gender disparities is an important step in improving gender equity in the field.

METHODS

The authors performed a systematic review of studies pertaining to women in neurosurgery. Papers listed in PubMed in the English language were collected. A modified grounded theory approach was utilized to systematically identify and code factors noted to contribute to gender disparities in neurosurgery. Statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows.

RESULTS

The authors identified 39 studies describing the density of women neurosurgeons in particular regions, 18 of which documented the proportion of practicing female neurosurgeons in a single or in multiple countries. The majority of these studies were published within the last 5 years. Eight factors contributing to gender disparity were identified, including conference representation, the proverbial glass ceiling, lifestyle, mentoring, discrimination, interest, salary, and physical burden.

CONCLUSIONS

The topic of women in neurosurgery has received considerable global scholarly attention. The worldwide proportion of female neurosurgeons varies by region and country. Mentorship was the most frequently cited factor contributing to noted gender differences, with lifestyle, the glass ceiling, and discrimination also frequently mentioned. Future studies are necessary to assess the influence of country-specific sociopolitical factors that push and pull individuals of all backgrounds to enter this field.