Surgery in South Africa - challenges and barriers

Area of Science:

• Medical and Health Sciences
• Surgical Training and Practice
• South African Healthcare System

Background:

• Surgical careers face global challenges, but specific barriers for South African surgeons remain under-researched.
• Understanding these obstacles is crucial for surgeon retention and well-being in South Africa.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the barriers and challenges encountered by South African surgeons during their training and professional careers.
• To provide data-driven insights into the unique difficulties faced by surgeons in the South African context.

Main Methods:

• A 15-item questionnaire was administered to South African surgeons between February and April 2020.
• Data collection utilized the Research Electronic Database Capturing software, ensuring anonymity of responses.
• Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 15 SE.

Main Results:

• A majority of respondents (90%) affirmed satisfaction with their surgical career choice.
• Key barriers included limited personal time (76%), heavy workload (71%), and difficulty taking leave (50%).
• Challenges encompassed work-life balance issues (56%), racial (23%) and gender discrimination (12%), with 53% reporting burnout.

Conclusions:

• South African surgeons experience substantial barriers and challenges, leading to burnout despite high career satisfaction.
• Female surgeons are disproportionately affected by these career obstacles.
• Mitigation strategies include mentorship, flexible work arrangements, postgraduate funding, and diversity training.