title: A look at the thoracic surgery workforce in Canada: how demographics and scope of practice may impact future workforce needs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study is to describe the demographics, training and practice characteristics of physicians performing thoracic surgery across Canada to better assess workforce needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed a questionnaire using a modified Delphi process to generate questionnaire items. The questionnaire was administered to all Canadian thoracic surgeons via email (n = 102) or mail (n = 35).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 97 surgeons completed the survey (71% response rate). The mean age of respondents was 47.7 (standard deviation 9.1) years; 10.3% were older than 60. Ninety respondents (88.7%) were men, 95 (81.1%) practised in English and 93 (76%) were born in Canada. Most (90.4%) had a medical school affiliation, with an equal proportion practising in community or university teaching hospitals. Only 18% of respondents reported working fewer than 60 hours per week, and 34% were on call more than 1 in 3. Three-quarters of work hours were devoted to clinical care, with the remaining time split among research, administration and teaching. Malignant lung disease accounted for 61.2% of practice time, with the remaining time equally split between benign and malignant thoracic diseases. Preoperative testing (49.4%) and insufficient operating time (49.5%) were the most common factors delaying delivery of care. More than 80% of respondents reported being satisfied with their careers, with 62.1% planning on retiring after age 60.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey characterizes Canadian thoracic surgeons by providing specific demographic, satisfaction and scope of practice information. Despite challenges in obtaining adequate resources for providing timely care, job satisfaction remains high, with a balanced workforce supply and demand anticipated for the foreseeable future.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery at the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. sean.grondin@albertahealthservices.ca
authors.forename: Sean C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Grondin
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schieman
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Darling
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maziak
authors.forename: Moné Palacios
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gelfand
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002170:Canada; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012179:Retirement; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000193:education; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data