Comparing Different Pathways in Medical Education and Surgical Training: A Global Survey of Surgeons

Currently, interest in surgical careers is declining globally, whereas aging populations are contributing to a rising demand for surgical procedures. Surgeons who conduct scientific investigations and share clinical advances internationally pay little attention to comparing differences in ways nations attract, educate, and train their surgeons. This study compares international pathways toward surgeon development with the aim of seeking best practices and improving the outlook of surgery as an attractive career.

A 70-question anonymous survey was distributed internationally to surgeons of all specialties. Data were analyzed in SPSS Statistics for Macintosh (IBM). A value of P less than 0.05 indicates statistical significance.

The 463 respondents from the United States (59%), the United Kingdom (16%), Europe (10%), Canada (5%), and the rest of the world (10%) averaged age 46, and 64% were women. Non-US/Canadian respondents (93%) attended 5- and 6-year medical schools; US respondents were far more likely (91%) to attend nonmedical 4-or-more-year university before medical school. Weekly training-hour mandates spanned less than or equal to 48 (9%) to 80 or more (45%); 76% surpassed mandate hours, and just 9% reported accurate hours. Average educational debt ranged from $14,000 (Europe) to $179,000 (US). Few (19%) felt training allowed family building.

Based on best practices from different countries, the authors recommend a 6-year maximum university/medical education requirement, elimination of nonsurgical training years (mandatory in some countries), single-program surgical training, objective measure of work hours, optimizing weekly hours, improved support for family building, and end-of-training certification options.