General thoracic surgery workforce: training, migration and practice profile in Brazil.

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Public Health Policy
• Surgical Workforce Analysis

Background:

• The profile of general thoracic surgeons in Brazil has not been previously characterized.
• Understanding the current workforce is crucial for addressing regional disparities and improving surgical care.
• This study represents the first survey of its kind in Brazil and Latin America.

Purpose of the Study:

• To profile the general thoracic surgeon in Brazil.
• To identify demographic, educational, and practice characteristics.
• To analyze workforce distribution and identify areas for improvement.

Main Methods:

• A web-based questionnaire with 82 questions was distributed to members of the Brazilian Society of Thoracic Surgery.
• Data collected included demographics, education, training, practice profile, research, certifications, professional society participation, income, and career satisfaction.
• Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on the collected data.

Main Results:

• A total of 468 surgeons participated, with a mean age of 43.2 years; 8% were women.
• Most surgeons (60%) graduated from public medical schools, and 88% were trained in four specific states.
• Only 32% practice exclusively thoracic surgery, with the public health system being the primary income source; significant geographic maldistribution was noted.

Conclusions:

• Brazil possesses a sufficient number of general thoracic surgeons, but their distribution is highly unequal.
• Urgent leadership actions and consistent government policies are needed to enhance working conditions and implement effective workforce planning.
• Addressing the geographic maldistribution is a primary concern for the specialty.