Pediatric Surgery Workforce Around the World: A Need to Revise Residency Programs?
Ahmad Khaleghnejad Tabari1, Leily Mohajerzadeh1, Manoochehr Ebrahimian1
1Pediatric Surgery Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Global Pediatric Health
|July 29, 2024
Summary
Global pediatric surgery training varies significantly, with many programs misaligned with actual needs. Shorter training or direct specialty pathways may help resource-limited nations address surgeon shortages.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Medical Education
- Surgical Specialties
Background:
- A significant global shortage of pediatric surgery specialists exists.
- Discrepancies in training programs and population metrics contribute to this shortage.
- Understanding these variations is crucial for improving pediatric surgical care access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate global disparities in pediatric surgery training programs.
- To analyze the relationship between training metrics and population health indicators.
- To identify factors influencing the availability of pediatric surgeons worldwide.
Main Methods:
- An international survey distributed to pediatric surgeons.
- Data collection on training duration, examinations, and certification.
- Inclusion of population metrics such as mortality rates and surgeon-to-population ratios.
Main Results:
- Data from 44 countries were analyzed.
- Average pediatric surgery training duration was 5.7 years, consistent across regions.
- Pediatric mortality and surgeon counts showed an inverse correlation; training duration correlated with GDP and life expectancy.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric surgery training programs often do not match national requirements.
- Nations with fewer economic resources may benefit from shorter residency or direct specialty training pathways.
- These adjustments can effectively mitigate shortages of pediatric surgeons.
