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Preparing surgeons for rural Australia: the RACS Rural Surgical Training Program
1Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
ANZ Journal of Surgery
|October 8, 2014
Summary
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons' Rural Surgical Training Program trained surgeons well for rural practice but failed to retain most in rural areas. Rural rotations influenced career choices more than the program itself.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Education
- Rural Health Workforce
- Medical Training Programs
Background:
- The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons' Rural Surgical Training Program (RSTP) operated from 1996 to 2007.
- A formal review was needed to assess if the RSTP met its goals of training and retaining rural surgeons in Australia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the RSTP in achieving its objectives.
- To determine the program's impact on surgeon retention in rural Australia.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 66 RSTP fellows and 67 general surgery fellows.
- The survey assessed factors influencing rural surgical career decisions, program impact on career pathways, and training adequacy for rural practice.
Main Results:
- Only 15 of 66 RSTP fellows practiced in rural Australia; 51 were in metropolitan areas.
- Rural surgical rotations during training were a key factor in choosing rural practice.
- Most participants (30/35) reported the RSTP did not influence their career path, and only 6/15 found the training adequate for rural work.
Conclusions:
- The RSTP effectively prepared surgeons for rural practice but did not retain the majority in rural locations.
- Targeting trainees at admission for rural practice did not significantly improve rural retention rates.
