Surgical resident perceptions of trauma surgery as a specialty.
OBJECTIVE
Presenting the opinions of surgical residents about the appeal of trauma surgery as a specialty may influence current reform.


METHODS
Survey study.


METHODS
Academic research.


METHODS
General surgery residents (postgraduate years 1-5 and recent graduates) registered with the American College of Surgeons.


METHODS
A 22-item survey.


METHODS
Career plans and perceptions about trauma surgery as a specialty.


RESULTS
Of 6006 mailed surveys, we had a 20.1% response rate. Midlevel residents comprised most of the respondents, and most were undecided about their career choice or planned to enter general surgical private practice. The typical residency programs represented were academic (81.7%), urban (90.6%), and level I trauma centers (78.7%), and included more than 6 months of trauma experience (77.6%). Most respondents (70.6%) thought that trauma surgery was unappealing. The most important deterrents to entering the field were lifestyle, poor reimbursement, and limited operating room exposure, while increased surgical critical care was not seen as a restriction. When questioned about the future of trauma surgery, they believed that trauma surgeons should perform elective (86.8%) and nontrauma emergency (91.5%) cases and would benefit from active association with an outpatient clinic (76.0%). Intellectual challenge and exciting nature of the field were listed as the most appealing aspects, and ideal practice characteristics included guaranteed salary and time away from work.


CONCLUSIONS
As demand for trauma surgeons increases, resident interest has dwindled. As a specialty, trauma surgery must undergo changes that reflect the needs of the incoming generation. We present a sampling of current surgical resident opinion and offer these data to assist the changing discipline and the evolving field of acute care surgery.
Hadzikadic
Lejla
L
Department of General Surgery, Boston University Medical Center, 850 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
Burke
Peter A
PA
Esposito
Thomas J
TJ
Agarwal
Suresh
S
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D002983:Clinical Competence; D015331:Cohort Studies; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008019:Life Style; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D014194:Traumatology / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States