title: Attitudes of surgical residents toward trauma care: a Canadian-based study.
abstract: Surgical residents (n = 330) registered in training programs in the province of Ontario, Canada were surveyed about their attitudes toward trauma care related issues. Questionnaires were returned by 48%. Overall, 84% felt that their clinical exposure to trauma was adequate; 78% noted that the emphasis placed on trauma topics in their educational programs was appropriate; 50% spend > 10% of their current clinical time in trauma care. Orthopedic residents (n = 43) were different; 79% devoted > 10% and 29% > or = 30% of their time to trauma. Future clinical activity in trauma as practicing surgeons was expressed by 83% of the trainees: 31% intended < 10%, 46% 10%-30%, and 6% > 30% of their future practices to be related to trauma. The major positive factors of trauma were the scope and excitement of trauma care. The major negative factors were the night/weekend activity and the time away from family. We are encouraged by the results of this survey in that a significant number of residents perceive trauma as a clinical endeavor to be incorporated into their future surgical practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Girotti
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chinnick
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Butcher
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Holliday
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009864:Ontario; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014194:Traumatology / Q000193:education; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data