Priti Lalchandani1, James C Y Dunn2. 1. David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7035, USA. 2. David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7035, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1749, USA. Electronic address: jdunn@mednet.ucla.edu.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The number of pediatric surgeons and their distribution vary greatly throughout the world. The purpose of this study is to examine potential influential factors including the length of education and training, pediatric population, birth rate, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. METHODS: An internet search was conducted to determine the duration of education from grade school to pediatric surgery fellowship, number of pediatric surgeons, birth rate, GDP, and population under 15 years of age in 15 countries. The number of pediatric surgeons per million children was correlated with these factors. RESULTS: The number of pediatric surgeons per million children varied from 0.51 to 29.3. The total length of education from grade school to completion of pediatric surgery training ranged from 23 to 29 years. There was no correlation between pediatric surgeons per million children with the duration of training. The number of pediatric surgeon per million children was inversely correlated with the birth rate. There was a positive correlation between the GDP per capita and pediatric surgeons per million children. CONCLUSION: There is a tremendous variability in pediatric surgeons around the world. There appears to be a significant shortage of pediatric surgeons in countries with a high birth rate and low GDP per capita.
INTRODUCTION: The number of pediatric surgeons and their distribution vary greatly throughout the world. The purpose of this study is to examine potential influential factors including the length of education and training, pediatric population, birth rate, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. METHODS: An internet search was conducted to determine the duration of education from grade school to pediatric surgery fellowship, number of pediatric surgeons, birth rate, GDP, and population under 15 years of age in 15 countries. The number of pediatric surgeons per million children was correlated with these factors. RESULTS: The number of pediatric surgeons per million children varied from 0.51 to 29.3. The total length of education from grade school to completion of pediatric surgery training ranged from 23 to 29 years. There was no correlation between pediatric surgeons per million children with the duration of training. The number of pediatric surgeon per million children was inversely correlated with the birth rate. There was a positive correlation between the GDP per capita and pediatric surgeons per million children. CONCLUSION: There is a tremendous variability in pediatric surgeons around the world. There appears to be a significant shortage of pediatric surgeons in countries with a high birth rate and low GDP per capita.
Authors: Megan E Bouchard; Yao Tian; Jeanine Justiniano; Samuel Linton; Christopher DeBoer; Fizan Abdullah; Monica Langer Journal: Pediatr Surg Int Date: 2021-06-09 Impact factor: 1.827
Authors: Tessa Concepcion; Mubarak Mohamed; Shugri Dahir; Edna Adan Ismail; Dan Poenaru; Henry E Rice; Emily R Smith Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2019-01-04