Open AccessClinical Fellowships in Surgical Training: Analysis of a National Pan‐specialty Workforce Survey
Author(s) -
Fitzgerald J. E. F.,
Milburn J. A.,
Khera G.,
Davies R. S. M.,
Hornby S. T.,
Giddings C. E. B.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
world journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.115
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1432-2323
pISSN - 0364-2313
DOI - 10.1007/s00268-013-1949-1
Subject(s) - specialty , medicine , competence (human resources) , subspecialty , workforce , vascular surgery , cardiothoracic surgery , family medicine , mentorship , seniority , respondent , medical education , workforce planning , credentialing , psychology , surgery , cardiac surgery , economic growth , social psychology , political science , law , economics
Background Fellowship posts are increasingly common and offer targeted opportunities for training and personal development. Despite international demand, there is little objective information quantifying this effect or the motivations behind undertaking such a post. The present study investigated surgical trainees’ fellowship aims and intentions. Methods An electronic, 38‐item, self‐administered questionnaire survey was distributed in the United Kingdom via national and regional surgical mailing lists and websites via the Association of Surgeons in Training, Royal Surgical Colleges, and Specialty Associations. Results In all, 1,581 fully completed surveys were received, and 1,365 were included in the analysis. These represented trainees in core or higher training programs or research from all specialties and training regions: 66 % were male; the mean age was 32 years; 77.6 % intended to or had already completed a fellowship. Plastic surgery (95.2 %) and cardiothoracic (88.6 %) trainees were most likely to undertake a fellowship, with pediatrics (51.2 %), and urology (54.3 %) the least likely. Fellowship uptake increased with seniority ( p < 0.01) and was positively correlated ( p = 0.016, r = 0.767) with increasing belief that fellowships are necessary to the attainment of clinical competence, agreed by 73.1 %. Fellowship aims were ranked in descending order of importance as attaining competence, increasing confidence, and attaining subspecialist skills. Conclusions Over three‐quarters of trainees have or will undertake a clinical fellowship, varying with gender, specialty, and seniority. Competence, confidence, and subspecialty skills development are the main aims. The findings will influence workforce planning, and perceptions that current training does not deliver sufficient levels of competence and confidence merit further investigation.