Healthcare Disparity Education for Surgical Residents: Progress Made, More Needed

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Health Equity

Background:

• Healthcare disparities significantly impact patient outcomes but lack standardization in surgical resident education.
• Addressing these disparities is crucial for improving surgical care quality and equity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence and design of current healthcare disparities curricula for surgical residents.
• To conduct a resident-based needs assessment regarding healthcare disparities education.

Main Methods:

• A national survey of general surgery program directors was conducted.
• A needs assessment survey was administered to general surgery residents at a single institution.

Main Results:

• 47% of general surgery programs have an active healthcare disparities curriculum, with patient race being the most common topic.
• Barriers to implementation include lack of institutional support and time.
• 100% of surveyed residents expressed a desire for practical education on how race and socioeconomic status affect surgical outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Less than half of general surgery residency programs currently incorporate healthcare disparities education.
• Resident-identified needs for practical, outcome-focused content can guide the development of national standards for surgical education in health equity.