Timing and motivation behind the decision to become a surgeon: Gender and optimal recruitment insights

This study aimed to clarify the timing and motivations behind decisions to pursue a surgical career and identify optimal recruitment strategies.

A nationwide questionnaire was administered to newly certified surgical trainees. Respondents were classified into two groups based on when they decided to pursue surgery: before junior residency (BJR) or during/after junior residency (DJR). The backgrounds and motivations were compared.

Among the 758 respondents (53.8%), 25.6% were female. Male trainees were more likely to decide to pursue surgery before medical school (18.7% vs. 9.4%, p = 0.003), whereas female trainees more often decided during their PGY-2 (35.4% vs. 24.1%, p = 0.002). The DJR group included more women (30.3% vs. 21.7%, p = 0.014) and residents from urban areas (46.6% vs. 36.7%, p = 0.008). The BJR group was more influenced by the images of surgeons and family. Among female residents, those in the DJR group were more influenced by recruitment from the surgeons.

This study demonstrated sex differences in the timing and motivation for pursuing a surgical career. Understanding the optimal timing and appealing factors for recruiting surgeons, particularly women, could inform more effective recruitment strategies.