Rural surgery rotation during surgical residency

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Rural Health
• Surgical Training

Background:

• General surgery in rural hospitals faces challenges due to decreased resident interest in rural practice.
• A shortage of rural surgeons impacts healthcare access in non-urban areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a dedicated rural rotation on surgical residents' experience and career choices.
• To determine if a rural rotation can mitigate the decline in rural surgical practice.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a 3-month rural rotation during the senior residency years for general surgery residents.
• Compared the case mix experienced by residents during the rural rotation with typical rural surgeon caseloads.
• Assessed the career choices of residents who completed the rural rotation versus those who did not.

Main Results:

• Residents in the rural rotation experienced a case mix more representative of rural surgical practice.
• A higher percentage of residents who completed the rural rotation chose to practice in rural settings compared to the control group.
• The rural rotation provided valuable exposure to the realities of rural general surgery.

Conclusions:

• A 3-month rural rotation is an effective strategy to enhance surgical resident training for rural practice.
• This educational intervention can positively influence resident career decisions, potentially increasing the rural surgeon workforce.
• Addressing declining interest in rural surgery requires targeted training programs like rural rotations.