title: Resident Perceptions of 2-Year Versus 3-Year Cardiothoracic Training Programs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Resident perceptions of 2-year (2Y) vs 3-year (3Y) programs have never been characterized. The objective was to use the mandatory Thoracic Surgery Residents Association and Thoracic Surgery Directors Association In-Training Examination survey to compare perceptions of residents graduating from 2Y vs 3Y cardiothoracic programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each year Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education cardiothoracic residents are required to take a 30-question survey designed by the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association and the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association accompanying the In-Training Examination with a 100% response rate. The 2013 and 2014 survey responses of residents graduating from 2Y vs 3Y training programs were compared. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyze ordinal and interval data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Graduating residents completed 167 surveys, including 96 from 2Y (56%) and 71 from 3Y (43%) programs. There was no difference in the perception of being prepared for the American Board of Thoracic Surgery examinations or amount of debt between 2Y and 3Y respondents. There was no difference in intended academic vs private practice. Graduating 3Y residents felt more prepared to meet case requirements and better trained, were more likely to pass their written American Board of Thoracic Surgery examinations, and were less likely to pursue additional training beyond their cardiothoracic residency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no difference in field of interest, practice type, and amount of debt between graduating 2Y vs 3Y residents. Respondents from 2Y programs expressed more difficulty in meeting case requirements, whereas residents from 3Y programs felt more prepared for independent practice and had higher American Board of Thoracic Surgery written pass rates.
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, University of Texas Medical School at Houston and Memorial Hermann Heart and Vascular Institute, Houston Texas. Electronic address: tom.c.nguyen@gmail.com.
authors: Tom C
authors: TC
authors: Nguyen
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, University of Texas Medical School at Houston and Memorial Hermann Heart and Vascular Institute, Houston Texas.
authors: Matthew D
authors: MD
authors: Terwelp
authors: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.
authors: Elizabeth H
authors: EH
authors: Stephens
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors: David D
authors: DD
authors: Odell
authors: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors: Gabriel
authors: G
authors: Loor
authors: Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors: Damien J
authors: DJ
authors: LaPar
authors: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors: Walter F
authors: WF
authors: DeNino
authors: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Wei
authors: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas.
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Aftab
authors: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors: Ryan A
authors: RA
authors: Macke
authors: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors: Jennifer S
authors: JS
authors: Nelson
authors: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
authors: Kathleen S
authors: KS
authors: Berfield
authors: PinnacleHeath Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Associates, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
authors: John F
authors: JF
authors: Lazar
authors: Congenital Heart Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Stein
authors: Swedish Heart & Vascular Institute, Swedish Cardiac Surgery, Seattle, Washington.
authors: Samuel J
authors: SJ
authors: Youssef
authors: Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
authors: Vakhtang
authors: V
authors: Tchantchaleishvili
mesh_terms: D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000193:education*