Do international rotations make surgical residents more resource-efficient? A preliminary study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Global Health

Background:

• International surgery rotations (ISRs) are increasingly common for general surgery residents in the US.
• These experiences are believed to foster resourcefulness and efficiency in managing limited medical supplies.
• Existing literature highlights resident interest and program-specific experiences with ISRs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis that general surgery residents become more resource-efficient after completing an ISR.
• To quantitatively assess changes in resource utilization (laboratory, radiologic, diagnostic studies) post-ISR.
• To explore residents' subjective perceptions of resource efficiency following ISR participation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of orders for 2900 patients placed by 21 general surgery residents over 65 months.
• Comparison of order patterns and costs between residents who completed a 1-month ISR and those who did not (NISR).
• Analysis of changes in resource utilization from pre-ISR to post-ISR periods, supplemented by a post-study survey.

Main Results:

• ISR residents' monthly order costs decreased by an average of $122 post-ISR, while NISR residents' costs increased by $338 (p=0.04).
• Pre-ISR order charges were comparable between groups; similar trends observed for radiologic/diagnostic studies.
• Survey data indicated ISR residents perceived a significant positive influence of their rotation on resource management attitudes and efficiency.

Conclusions:

• Preliminary findings suggest ISRs may enhance resource efficiency among general surgery residents.
• The study's small sample size and observational nature limit definitive causal conclusions.
• Further research with larger cohorts is recommended to establish a conclusive link between ISRs and resident resource efficiency.