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Transplant surgeons in training: is anybody out there?
G J Morris-Stiff1, S Benson, J Casey
1Department of Transplantation Surgery, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK. stiffgj@cf.ac.uk
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
|June 12, 1999
Summary
Transplant surgeon shortages loom in the UK & Ireland. Most trainees prefer combined specialties over pure transplant roles, indicating a need to understand career barriers.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Training
- Transplant Surgery
- Medical Workforce
Background:
- Organ donor shortage limits UK & Ireland transplant activity.
- Unfilled consultant vacancies suggest a potential surgeon shortage.
- Trainee career aspirations are crucial for future transplant capacity.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify transplant trainees in the UK & Ireland.
- Determine their career aspirations and preferred practice types.
- Assess factors influencing recruitment into transplant surgery.
Main Methods:
- Compiled a list of all transplant trainees in the UK & Ireland.
- Used postal questionnaires and telephone interviews for data collection.
- Assessed preferred consultancy types using direct questions and a visual analogue scale.
Main Results:
- 50% of identified trainees (45% response rate) wish to pursue transplant surgery.
- Most UK & Ireland-based trainees (27/31) prefer transplantation combined with a second specialty.
- Multivisceral transplant posts scored low desirability (4.7/10), while combined specialties scored high (8.4/10).
Conclusions:
- The majority of trainees are not interested in pure transplant posts.
- Combined transplant and second specialty roles are highly preferred.
- A significant shortage of trainees persists, necessitating further research into career deterrents.