Working conditions and trainee shortage in operative disciplines--is our profession ready for the next decade?
BACKGROUND
Increasing concern has been expressed worldwide on the problem of finding young doctors to enter a training programme in an operative speciality.


METHODS
A survey comprising 22 questions on working conditions and job satisfaction was placed on the homepage of the Austrian Society of Surgery; 667 questionnaires were completed.


RESULTS
The question whether surgery is threatened by a trainee shortage was answered with "yes" by 68%. Only 37% were satisfied with their working conditions. The majority (61%) specified documentation as making up between 20% and 40% of their workload, 22.5% estimated an even higher percentage. Only 17.7% were satisfied with payment. A clear majority works 60 to 80 h per week or more. Only 32.5% stated that they can leave the hospital in the morning after weekend duty; for night duty during the week, this percentage decreased to just 4.2%. As for surgical training, 33.3% were satisfied. Regular assessments between the trainees and their department heads were confirmed by only 34%. A clear majority (96%) is in favour of rotations in other hospitals during residency for the sake of broader experience.


CONCLUSIONS
Working hour restrictions are essential, but not enough: Substantial improvements in the professional profile and in training are required.
Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, 8036, Graz, Austria. herwig.cerwenka@meduni-graz.at
Herwig
H
Cerwenka
Heinz
H
Bacher
Georg
G
Werkgartner
Hans-Jörg
HJ
Mischinger
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001317:Austria; D002321:Career Choice; D003625:Data Collection; D004282:Documentation; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000600:supply & distribution; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000193:education; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014146:Training Support / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000523:psychology; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload