Modeling the Lifetime Impact of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Training: Implications for Building Capacity in Global
Lawrence Cai1, Natalie Meyers1, James Chang2
1From ReSurge International, Sunnyvale, Calif.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Global Open
|February 6, 2024
Summary
Training surgeons in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) creates a multiplier effect, significantly increasing surgical capacity across multiple generations. This multigenerational impact is crucial for closing the global surgical gap.
Area of Science:
- Global Surgery
- Surgical Education
- Health Systems Strengthening
Background:
- Surgical capacity is limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), contributing to a significant unmet surgical burden.
- Training local surgeons is essential for addressing this disparity and improving healthcare access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and propose a conceptual framework for quantifying the multigenerational impact of surgical training.
- To estimate the impact of a single surgeon's training across successive generations of trainees.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a literature review to identify existing training impact quantification models.
- Devised a model based on a surgeon's attributable impact and trainees' lifetime case volume.
- Administered a quantitative survey to surgeons in high-income countries and LMICs.
Main Results:
- No existing models were found for quantifying multigenerational training impact in any field.
- Survey responses from 28 US and 19 LMIC surgeons were analyzed.
- Multigenerational training impact varied widely, from 4,100 (skin graft) to 134,300 (cleft lip repair) attributable cases, with higher impact in LMICs.
Conclusions:
- Surgical training demonstrates a substantial first-generation impact, amplified significantly in the second generation.
- This "multiplier effect" is particularly vital in LMICs due to surgeon scarcity.
- The findings underscore the importance of training initiatives for closing the global surgical deficit.
