The Canadian plastic surgery workforce survey: interpretation and implications.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have monitored physician supply in Canada, and no studies have specifically examined the Canadian plastic surgery workforce.


METHODS
In this study, data were gathered by three methods. A survey was distributed to all members of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons in October of 2004. Opinions on the availability of plastic surgery services were solicited. A second survey that focused on demographics and workload was distributed in December of 2004. Finally, the locations of all Canadian trainees graduating between 1995 and 2005 were reviewed.


RESULTS
The response rate to the first survey was 42 percent. Seventy-eight percent of respondents felt that there was a shortage of plastic surgeons in their community. The response rate to the second survey was 40 percent. Twenty-eight percent of respondents were within 5 years of retirement and 3.2 percent stated that they planned to emigrate by 2010. The mean waiting time for an elective consultation was 32 +/- 33 weeks. Review of all 179 plastic surgery graduates over the past 10 years revealed that 23 percent now practice outside of Canada.


CONCLUSIONS
When these results are projected to the total workforce, they indicate that there will be a future shortage of plastic surgeons in Canada. To prevent a further deficit, there is a need to increase the number of plastic surgery trainees in Canada, to offer incentives for graduates to stay in Canada, and to possibly recruit more foreign-trained plastic surgeons to practice within Canada.
Macadam
Sheina A
SA
Vancouver, British Columbia; Saint John, New Brunswick; Edmonton, Alberta; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada From the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dalhousie University; Department of Surgery, Divisions of Plastic Surgery and Public Health Sciences and Epidemiology Coordinating Center, University of Alberta; and Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Toronto.
Kennedy
Steven
S
Lalonde
Don
D
Anzarut
Alex
A
Clarke
Howard M
HM
Brown
Erin E
EE
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011365:Professional Practice Location / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000193:education; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*