Premium
Part‐time general surgical training in S outh A ustralia: its success and future implications (or: pinnacles, pitfalls and lessons for the future)
Author(s) -
Neuhaus Susan,
Igras Emma,
Fosh Beverley,
Benson Sarah
Publication year - 2012
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/j.1445-2197.2012.06309.x
Subject(s) - logbook , workforce , medicine , accreditation , training (meteorology) , position (finance) , unit (ring theory) , medical education , family medicine , psychology , oceanography , physics , mathematics education , geology , meteorology , economics , economic growth , finance
Background Flexible training options are sought by an increasing number of Australasian surgical trainees. Reasons include increased participation of women in the surgical workforce, postgraduate training and changing attitudes to family responsibilities. Despite endorsement of flexible training by the R oyal A ustralasian C ollege of S urgeons and B oard in G eneral S urgery, part‐time ( PT ) training in G eneral S urgery in A ustralia and N ew Z ealand is not well established. A permanent ‘stand‐alone’ PT training position was established at the R oyal A delaide H ospital in 2007 under the S urgical E ducation and T raining P rogram. This position offered 12 months of G eneral S urgical training on a 0.5 full‐time (FT) equivalent basis with pro rata emergency and on‐call commitments and was accredited for 6 months of G eneral S urgical training. This paper reviews the PT training experience in S outh A ustralia. Methods De‐identified logbook data were obtained from the S outh A ustralian R egional S ubcommittee of the B oard in G eneral S urgery with consent of each of the trainees. Totals of operative cases were compared against matched FT trainees working on the same unit. Results Overall, PT trainees achieved comparable operative caseloads compared with their FT colleagues. All trainees included in this review have subsequently passed the R oyal A ustralasian C ollege of S urgeons F ellowship E xamination in G eneral S urgery and returned to FT workforce positions. Conclusion This paper presents two validated models of PT training. Training, resource and regulatory requirements and individual and institutional barriers to flexible training are substantial. Successful PT models offer positive and beneficial training alternatives for G eneral S urgical trainees and contribute to workforce flexibility.