Young RAES Minimally Invasive Surgery Training and Education Survey in Romania

Introduction: minimally invasive surgery is the surgery of the present and has become the "gold standard" for the most pathologies. The training of surgeons in minimally invasive techniques is mandatory required to be carried out during the residency program. In Romania, there is no national minimally invasive surgical training program, only universities and certain university hospitals are concerned with this aspect. The aim of this study was to assess the level of minimally invasive surgical training at the national level and to identify the concerns of residents and young specialists in surgical specialties. Material and Method: the Young-RAES team designed a confidential 25-question online questionnaire that explores the individual minimally invasive surgical training and needs of young medical surgeons. The online questionnaire was sent to young surgeons from Romania, RAES members and non-members, and was distributed on social networks. All young surgeons, regardless of specialty (age 40 years), were invited to participate in the period December 2023 " January 2024 on the survey. Results: a total of 197 respondents from 9 University Centers participated in the survey. The majority of respondents (55.3%) described their current position as a resident doctor, 94.4% working in a public hospital. Only 20.3% have the benefit of having a laparoscopic simulation center in the institution where they work, and 63.5% have followed some form of individual training in minimally invasive techniques. Most respondents performed their first surgical intervention after the 3rd year of residency, the most common procedure being laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Regardless of gender distribution, most respondents wanted more than 1 year of minimally invasive training during their residency program. Conclusions: this national survey emphasizes the need for a training program in minimally invasive surgery at the national level, with a common structure and program and with the possibility of periodic individual evaluation, the importance of promoting surgical training being mandatory for improving postoperative results.