Addressing Gender Disparity in Surgery: Rethinking A One-Size-Fits-All Approach to Immersive Endoscopy

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Medical Training
• Ergonomics in Medicine

Background:

• Female surgical trainees experience unique challenges in endoscopy training.
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs provides a framework for understanding trainee experiences.
• Ergonomics and immersive training are critical factors in surgical skill acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the experiences of female surgical trainees in endoscopy training.
• To investigate the influence of ergonomics on learning in this setting.
• To assess the viability of immersive training for female trainees learning colonoscopy.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 female higher general surgical trainees in the UK.
• Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis.
• Training Programme Directors (TPDs) facilitated access to participants.

Main Results:

• Most female trainees find endoscopes difficult to handle, leading to frustration and feelings of inadequacy.
• There is a lack of awareness regarding ergonomics as a specific issue for women in endoscopy.
• Immersive training offers benefits like increased scope volume and confidence, but can be demanding.

Conclusions:

• Ergonomic issues for female surgical trainees in endoscopy are often unacknowledged.
• Immersive training can aid access to endoscopy, but must integrate ergonomics and spaced learning.
• Addressing ergonomic challenges is crucial for optimizing female surgical trainees' education in colonoscopy.