Has implementation of the 80-hour work week made a career in surgery more appealing to medical students?
BACKGROUND
This study was conducted to determine if a surgical career became more appealing to medical students with the resident work week limited to 80 hours.


METHODS
At the start and conclusion of each surgery clerkship rotation, students completed a survey addressing perception of surgeons, and surgery as a career. They were divided into the control groups (rotations before July 2003; n = 109) and the experimental group (rotations after July 2003; n = 108).


RESULTS
Students in the experimental group had a significantly more favorable impression of a surgeon's lifestyle and work hours than those in the control group. This was especially true of female students post-rotation, who responded more positively to the statement that a surgical career would allow for a good balance between professional and personal life (1.87 vs 2.45, P <.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The new Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) regulation has had a positive impact on students' perceptions of the surgeon's lifestyle, but does not necessarily increase their interest in a surgical career.
Arnold
Mark W
MW
Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health, 1654 Upham Dr., 308 Means Hall, Columbus, OH 43210-1250, USA.
Patterson
Anna F
AF
Tang
A S Li
AS
D000068:Accreditation; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D012737:Sex Factors; D013337:Students, Medical; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload