BACKGROUND: Many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) lack basic surgical resources, resulting in avoidable disability and mortality. Recently, residents in surgical training programs have shown increasing interest in overseas elective experiences to assist surgical programs in LMICs. The purpose of this study was to survey Canadian surgical residents about their interest in international volunteerism. METHODS: We sent a web-based survey to all general and orthopedic surgery residents enrolled in surgical training programs in Canada. The survey assessed residents' interests, attitudes and motivations, and perceived barriers and aids with respect to international volunteerism. RESULTS: In all, 361 residents completed the survey for a response rate of 38.0%. Half of the respondents indicated that the availability of an international surgery elective would have positively influenced their selection of a residency program. Excluding the 18 residents who had volunteered during residency, 63.8% of the remaining residents confirmed an interest in international volunteering with "contributing to an important cause," "teaching" and "tourism/cultural enhancement" as the leading reasons for their interest. Perceived barriers included "lack of financial support" and "lack of available organized opportunities." All (100%) respondents who had done an international elective during residency confirmed that they would pursue such work in the future. CONCLUSION: Administrators of Canadian surgical programs should be aware of strong resident interest in global health care and accordingly develop opportunities by encouraging faculty mentorships and resources for global health teaching.
BACKGROUND: Many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) lack basic surgical resources, resulting in avoidable disability and mortality. Recently, residents in surgical training programs have shown increasing interest in overseas elective experiences to assist surgical programs in LMICs. The purpose of this study was to survey Canadian surgical residents about their interest in international volunteerism. METHODS: We sent a web-based survey to all general and orthopedic surgery residents enrolled in surgical training programs in Canada. The survey assessed residents' interests, attitudes and motivations, and perceived barriers and aids with respect to international volunteerism. RESULTS: In all, 361 residents completed the survey for a response rate of 38.0%. Half of the respondents indicated that the availability of an international surgery elective would have positively influenced their selection of a residency program. Excluding the 18 residents who had volunteered during residency, 63.8% of the remaining residents confirmed an interest in international volunteering with "contributing to an important cause," "teaching" and "tourism/cultural enhancement" as the leading reasons for their interest. Perceived barriers included "lack of financial support" and "lack of available organized opportunities." All (100%) respondents who had done an international elective during residency confirmed that they would pursue such work in the future. CONCLUSION: Administrators of Canadian surgical programs should be aware of strong resident interest in global health care and accordingly develop opportunities by encouraging faculty mentorships and resources for global health teaching.
Authors: Ramanan Laxminarayan; Anne J Mills; Joel G Breman; Anthony R Measham; George Alleyne; Mariam Claeson; Prabhat Jha; Philip Musgrove; Jeffrey Chow; Sonbol Shahid-Salles; Dean T Jamison Journal: Lancet Date: 2006-04-08 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Anathea C Powell; Claudia Mueller; Peter Kingham; Russell Berman; H Leon Pachter; Mary Ann Hopkins Journal: J Am Coll Surg Date: 2007-05-17 Impact factor: 6.113
Authors: J D Heckman; P P Lee; C A Jackson; D Relles; J N Weinstein; M C Gebhardt; M A Simon; J J Callaghan; R D D'Ambrosia Journal: J Bone Joint Surg Am Date: 1998-10 Impact factor: 5.284
Authors: R Carter Clement; Yoonhee P Ha; Bartholt Clagett; Ginger E Holt; John P Dormans Journal: Clin Orthop Relat Res Date: 2013-07-27 Impact factor: 4.176
Authors: Rachel A Umoren; Robert M Einterz; Debra K Litzelman; Ronald K Pettigrew; Samuel O Ayaya; Edward A Liechty Journal: J Grad Med Educ Date: 2014-06
Authors: Joshua S Ng-Kamstra; Sarah L M Greenberg; Fizan Abdullah; Vanda Amado; Geoffrey A Anderson; Matchecane Cossa; Ainhoa Costas-Chavarri; Justine Davies; Haile T Debas; George S M Dyer; Sarnai Erdene; Paul E Farmer; Amber Gaumnitz; Lars Hagander; Adil Haider; Andrew J M Leather; Yihan Lin; Robert Marten; Jeffrey T Marvin; Craig D McClain; John G Meara; Mira Meheš; Charles Mock; Swagoto Mukhopadhyay; Sergelen Orgoi; Timothy Prestero; Raymond R Price; Nakul P Raykar; Johanna N Riesel; Robert Riviello; Stephen M Rudy; Saurabh Saluja; Richard Sullivan; John L Tarpley; Robert H Taylor; Louis-Franck Telemaque; Gabriel Toma; Asha Varghese; Melanie Walker; Gavin Yamey; Mark G Shrime Journal: BMJ Glob Health Date: 2016-04-06