Perceptions of Preparedness in Plastic Surgery Residency Training

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Plastic Surgery Training

Background:

• Graduating competent surgical residents necessitates progressive independence.
• Recent trends show reduced resident independence in surgical subspecialties due to regulations, legal concerns, and financial factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess perceived autonomy and preparedness in plastic surgery residency.
• To identify factors influencing resident autonomy during training.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous electronic surveys distributed to attending surgeons and residents in ACGME-accredited plastic surgery programs (2017-2018).
• Data collected from 72 integrated and 42 independent programs; analyzed using Fisher exact and chi-square tests.

Main Results:

• 87% of residents felt prepared for practice; however, specific gaps were noted in aesthetics and pediatrics/craniofacial surgery.
• Residents cited procedure complexity, attending supervision, and time as key factors affecting autonomy.
• Attending surgeons identified patient safety as the primary deterrent to resident autonomy.

Conclusions:

• A majority of plastic surgery residents feel prepared, yet specific training deficiencies persist in aesthetic and craniofacial surgery.
• Plastic surgery programs must balance promoting resident autonomy with ensuring patient safety, productivity, and financial viability.