Priorities for professionalism: what do surgeons think?
OBJECTIVE
To gain an understanding of the relative importance of the nine surgical competencies and their 27 attributes defined by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), which together provide the curriculum framework for today's surgeons.


METHODS
Between 9 August and 30 September 2010, trainees and Fellows of the RACS across Australia and New Zealand actively involved in educational activities rated, via questionnaire, the importance of the RACS competencies (technical expertise, communication, professionalism, medical expertise, judgement and decision making, scholarship and teaching, collaboration and teamwork, management and leadership, and health advocacy) and associated attributes.


METHODS
Importance ranking of competencies and their attributes for surgical education and training.


RESULTS
Of 3054 questionnaires distributed, 1834 (60%) were returned. We identified clear priorities in the perceived relative importance of the nine competencies and 27 attributes. The most important attributes were competence, insight, and recognising conditions amenable to surgery; least important were responding to community and cultural needs, supporting others, and maintaining personal health and wellbeing. Key differences were noted for the competency of collaboration and teamwork, which was ranked as more important by trainees than by Fellows. Female trainees and Fellows regarded all attributes as more important than did male trainees and Fellows.


CONCLUSIONS
In a complex environment with multiple pressures, the priorities of the competencies are important. Trainees and Fellows had a very similar approach to the prioritisation of the attributes. Of concern is the lesser importance given to attributes beyond individual expertise.
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. david.hillis@surgeons.org.
David J
DJ
Hillis
Russell Kennedy Lawyers, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Michael W
MW
Gorton
Australian e-Health Research Centre, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Bruce H
BH
Barraclough
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
David
D
Beckett
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D011361:Professional Competence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires