Cara L Sedney1, Jennifer Siu2, Gail Rosseau3, Robert Dempsey4, Mark Bernstein5. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Electronic address: csedney@hsc.wvu.edu. 2. Queens University School of Medicine, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. 3. Department of Neurosurgery, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 4. Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. 5. Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the experiences of volunteers of the Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery. METHODS: A qualitative analysis of >150 volunteer reports from 2004-2013 was performed using grounded theory. Various themes were explored based on their occurrence in the reports. RESULTS: Volunteer reports of extended trips appeared to peak in 2009, with a heavy emphasis on activity in Africa. Prominent themes in the reports included volunteer contributions, successful strategies, challenges, and future directions. CONCLUSIONS: Volunteers demonstrated wide-ranging contributions. Successful strategies included continuity and collaboration with other organizations. Challenges were overwhelmingly related to equipment or infrastructure. Common suggestions for future directions included institutional collaboration and subspecialty development.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the experiences of volunteers of the Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery. METHODS: A qualitative analysis of >150 volunteer reports from 2004-2013 was performed using grounded theory. Various themes were explored based on their occurrence in the reports. RESULTS: Volunteer reports of extended trips appeared to peak in 2009, with a heavy emphasis on activity in Africa. Prominent themes in the reports included volunteer contributions, successful strategies, challenges, and future directions. CONCLUSIONS: Volunteers demonstrated wide-ranging contributions. Successful strategies included continuity and collaboration with other organizations. Challenges were overwhelmingly related to equipment or infrastructure. Common suggestions for future directions included institutional collaboration and subspecialty development.
Authors: Matthew C Davis; Brandon G Rocque; Ash Singhal; Thomas Ridder; Jogi V Pattisapu; James M Johnston Journal: J Neurosurg Pediatr Date: 2017-05-19 Impact factor: 2.375