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Preparing surgeons for rural A ustralia: the RACS Rural Surgical Training Program
Author(s) -
Chong Aaron,
Kiroff George
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/ans.12880
Subject(s) - medicine , rural area , work (physics) , metropolitan area , medical education , engineering , mechanical engineering , pathology
Background The R oyal A ustralasian C ollege of S urgeons' R ural S urgical T raining P rogram ( RSTP ) ran from 1996 to 2007. As a formal review of the RSTP had never occurred, it remained unknown whether the RSTP had achieved its objectives of training surgeons for and retaining them in practice in rural A ustralia. Methods Sixty‐six RSTP fellows and 67 general surgery fellows were asked to complete a survey evaluating factors influencing the decision to pursue a rural surgical career, the influence of the RSTP on subsequent career pathways and the adequacy of the RSTP in preparing its trainees for rural work. Results Fifty‐one out of 66 RSTP fellows were noted to be in practice in metropolitan A ustralia, with only 15 in rural A ustralia. Responses obtained revealed rural surgical rotations during training as a major influence in the decision to perform rural work. Thirty out of 35 RSTP participants stated that the RSTP did not influence their subsequent careers. Six out of 15 RSTP respondents responded positively when asked about the adequacy of the RSTP in preparing its trainees for rural work. Conclusion The RSTP largely succeeded in preparing its trainees for rural work, but did not succeed in retaining the majority of its trainees in practice in rural A ustralia. It appears that targeting doctors at the point of admission to surgical training, in the hope that this would translate into more rural surgeons, did not result in improved retention in rural areas.