Samuel Minor1, Jason Park, Paul Belliveau, Ross Walker. 1. Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 2V7, Canada. samuel_minor@hotmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lifestyle has been identified by numerous studies as the number one deterrent to pursuing a career in general surgery. This study tests the hypothesis that a better lifestyle during general surgery clerkship correlates with a higher application rate to general surgery. METHODS: Canadian Residency Matching Service data from the past 10 years were used to identify institution-specific application rates to general surgery. Through a survey of all fourth-year medical students applying to general surgery in Canada and Canadian undergraduate surgery program directors, the lifestyle of each general surgery clerkship was described and given a score. RESULTS: Multiple descriptions of the clerkship structure were obtained for every school in Canada to reduce recall bias, with an average of 4 sources per program. One school stood out as the most prolific producer of general surgery applicants, with an average of 7.9% of the total class applying to general surgery each year. This represented 80% more general surgery applicants relative to the national average (p < 0.05). Surprisingly, however, this institution also had the worst clerkship lifestyle score, having a higher call requirement, not sending their clerks home at noon post call, and placing a higher burden of responsibility on their clerks. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a lifestyle-friendly surgical clerkship may not be necessary to increase recruitment into general surgery.
BACKGROUND: Lifestyle has been identified by numerous studies as the number one deterrent to pursuing a career in general surgery. This study tests the hypothesis that a better lifestyle during general surgery clerkship correlates with a higher application rate to general surgery. METHODS: Canadian Residency Matching Service data from the past 10 years were used to identify institution-specific application rates to general surgery. Through a survey of all fourth-year medical students applying to general surgery in Canada and Canadian undergraduate surgery program directors, the lifestyle of each general surgery clerkship was described and given a score. RESULTS: Multiple descriptions of the clerkship structure were obtained for every school in Canada to reduce recall bias, with an average of 4 sources per program. One school stood out as the most prolific producer of general surgery applicants, with an average of 7.9% of the total class applying to general surgery each year. This represented 80% more general surgery applicants relative to the national average (p < 0.05). Surprisingly, however, this institution also had the worst clerkship lifestyle score, having a higher call requirement, not sending their clerks home at noon post call, and placing a higher burden of responsibility on their clerks. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a lifestyle-friendly surgical clerkship may not be necessary to increase recruitment into general surgery.
Authors: V Z Erzurum; R J Obermeyer; A Fecher; P Thyagarajan; P Tan; A K Koler; M K Hirko; J R Rubin Journal: Surgery Date: 2000-08 Impact factor: 3.982
Authors: Edward E Whang; Alexander Perez; Hiromichi Ito; Michelle M Mello; Stanley W Ashley; Michael J Zinner Journal: J Am Coll Surg Date: 2003-10 Impact factor: 6.113