title: Global comparison of pediatric surgery workforce and training.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of pediatric surgeons and their distribution vary greatly throughout the world. The purpose of this study is to examine potential influential factors including the length of education and training, pediatric population, birth rate, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.
  
  
  METHODS
  An internet search was conducted to determine the duration of education from grade school to pediatric surgery fellowship, number of pediatric surgeons, birth rate, GDP, and population under 15 years of age in 15 countries. The number of pediatric surgeons per million children was correlated with these factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of pediatric surgeons per million children varied from 0.51 to 29.3. The total length of education from grade school to completion of pediatric surgery training ranged from 23 to 29 years. There was no correlation between pediatric surgeons per million children with the duration of training. The number of pediatric surgeon per million children was inversely correlated with the birth rate. There was a positive correlation between the GDP per capita and pediatric surgeons per million children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a tremendous variability in pediatric surgeons around the world. There appears to be a significant shortage of pediatric surgeons in countries with a high birth rate and low GDP per capita.
authors.affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7035, USA.
authors.forename: Priti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lalchandani
authors.affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7035, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1749, USA. Electronic address: jdunn@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: James C Y
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dunn
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D059066:Gross Domestic Product; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D066231:Surgeons / Q000193:education* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Pediatric surgery education; Pediatric surgery training; Pediatric surgery workforce