Current state of global neurosurgery activity amongst European neurosurgeons

The expanding field of global neurosurgery calls for a committed neurosurgical community to advocate for universal access to timely, safe, and affordable neurosurgical care for everyone, everywhere. The aim of this study was to assess the current state of global neurosurgery activity amongst European neurosurgeons and to identify barriers to involvement in global neurosurgery initiatives.

Cross-sectional study through dissemination of a web-based survey, from September 2019 to January 2020, to collect data from European neurosurgeons at various career stages. Descriptive analysis was conducted on respondent data.

Three hundred and ten neurosurgeons from 40 European countries responded: 53.5% regularly follow global neurosurgery developments, and 29.4% had travelled abroad with a global neurosurgery collaborative, with 23.2% planning a future trip. Respondents from high income European countries predominantly travelled to Africa (41.6%) or Asia (34.4%), whereas respondents from middle income European countries frequently traversed Europe (63.2%) and North America (47.4%). Cost implications (66.5%) were the most common barrier to global neurosurgery activity, followed by interference with current practice (45.8%), family duties (35.2%), difficulties obtaining humanitarian leave (27.7%) and lack of international partners (27.4%). 86.8% would incorporate a global neurosurgery period within training programmes.

European neurosurgeons are interested in engaging in global neurosurgery partnerships, and several sustainable programs focused on local capacity building, education and research have been established over the last decade. However, individual and system barriers to engagement persist. We provided insight into these to allow development of tailored mechanisms to overcome such barriers, enabling European neurosurgeons to advocate for the Global Surgery 2030 goals.