Joel J Wackerbarth1, Timothy D Campbell2, Sherry Wren3, Raymond R Price4, Ronald V Maier5, Patricia Numann6, Adam L Kushner7. 1. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington. Electronic address: jwacker2@jhu.edu. 2. The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. 3. Center for Global Health and Innovation, Stanford University, Stanford, California. 4. Center for Global Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah; Education Intermountain Medical Center, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah. 5. Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. 6. Department of Surgery Emerita, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York. 7. Surgeons OverSeas, New York, New York; Department of Surgery, Columbia University, New York, New York; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Many general surgical residency programs lack a formal international component. We hypothesized that most surgery programs do not have international training or do not provide the information to prospective applicants regarding electives or programs in an easily accessible manner via Web-based resources. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Individual general surgery program Web sites and the American College of Surgeons residency tool were used to identify 239 residencies. The homepages were examined for specific mention of international or global health programs. Ease of access was also considered. Global surgery specific pages or centers were noted. Programs were assessed for length of rotation, presence of research component, and mention of benefits to residents and respective institution. RESULTS: Of 239 programs, 24 (10%) mentioned international experiences on their home page and 42 (18%) contained information about global surgery. Of those with information available, 69% were easily accessible. Academic programs were more likely than independent programs to have information about international opportunities on their home page (13.7% versus 4.0%, P = 0.006) and more likely to have a dedicated program or pathway Web site (18.8% versus 2.0%, P < 0.0001). Half of the residencies with global surgery information did not have length of rotation available. Research was only mentioned by 29% of the Web sites. Benefits to high-income country residents were discussed more than benefits to low- and middle-income country residents (57% versus 17%). CONCLUSIONS: General surgery residency programs do not effectively communicate international opportunities for prospective residents through Web-based resources and should seriously consider integrating international options into their curriculum and better present them on department Web sites.
BACKGROUND: Many general surgical residency programs lack a formal international component. We hypothesized that most surgery programs do not have international training or do not provide the information to prospective applicants regarding electives or programs in an easily accessible manner via Web-based resources. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Individual general surgery program Web sites and the American College of Surgeons residency tool were used to identify 239 residencies. The homepages were examined for specific mention of international or global health programs. Ease of access was also considered. Global surgery specific pages or centers were noted. Programs were assessed for length of rotation, presence of research component, and mention of benefits to residents and respective institution. RESULTS: Of 239 programs, 24 (10%) mentioned international experiences on their home page and 42 (18%) contained information about global surgery. Of those with information available, 69% were easily accessible. Academic programs were more likely than independent programs to have information about international opportunities on their home page (13.7% versus 4.0%, P = 0.006) and more likely to have a dedicated program or pathway Web site (18.8% versus 2.0%, P < 0.0001). Half of the residencies with global surgery information did not have length of rotation available. Research was only mentioned by 29% of the Web sites. Benefits to high-income country residents were discussed more than benefits to low- and middle-income country residents (57% versus 17%). CONCLUSIONS: General surgery residency programs do not effectively communicate international opportunities for prospective residents through Web-based resources and should seriously consider integrating international options into their curriculum and better present them on department Web sites.
Authors: Narainsai K Reddy; Sarah A Applebaum; James R Wester; Brian C Drolet; Jeffrey E Janis; Arun K Gosain Journal: Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open Date: 2022-04-14