Satisfaction From Plastic Surgery Residency: A National Survey

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Plastic surgery residency programs in Israel have evolved, but resident perspectives remain unexamined.
• Understanding resident satisfaction is crucial for optimizing surgical training quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the satisfaction levels of plastic surgery residents in Israel.
• To identify factors influencing resident satisfaction within Israeli plastic surgery programs.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous national survey was administered to plastic surgery residents in Israel.
• Demographic, professional, and educational data were collected and analyzed using descriptive and univariate statistics.
• Resident satisfaction was correlated with various training and practice variables.

Main Results:

• A 75.9% response rate was achieved. Many residents reported limited exposure to aesthetic surgeries and received instruction from fewer than half of attending physicians.
• Overall resident satisfaction averaged 3.33/5.
• Increased satisfaction was significantly associated with higher surgical volume, participation in complex procedures, comprehensive patient management, quality of surgical and academic instruction, perceived training adequacy for professional level and independence, and a good match between demands and capabilities.

Conclusions:

• Several key factors significantly impact plastic surgery resident satisfaction in Israel.
• Plastic surgery departments and faculty should address identified factors to improve resident training and satisfaction.
• The developed questionnaire can serve as a valuable tool for assessing and monitoring resident training quality.