title: A Survey of Cardiothoracic Surgical Training in the United Kingdom: Realities of a 6-Year Integrated Training Program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, cardiothoracic (CT) surgical training has faced several challenges, including a reduction in working hours and trainees favoring shorter training programs. We carried out a national survey in the United Kingdom (UK) to assess the CT 6-year training program.
  
  
  METHODS
  All CT trainees in the UK (n = 121) were sent an online survey. This was combined with a debate at the Society for CT Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-one (75.2%) of all trainees responded. Despite 56 (68.1%) being rostered for more than a 48-hour week, 31 (34.1%) of all trainees work an extra 10 hours. The majority (56, 61.5%) thought that on-calls and night duty are useful. Just over half of the trainees (47, 51.6%) spend at least 2 full days in the operating room, but 79 (86.8%) thought that this is too little and would spend voluntary time operating. Simulation of operations is thought to be useful; however, few thought that this should take more precedence in their training program. The majority of trainees thought that the current assessment of surgical training is suboptimal and does not examine surgical skill. Similarly, the majority thought that a defined number of operations is required before qualification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trainees remain committed to their profession and are willing to dedicate more time perfecting their art. They believe that despite wanting extra operating experience, they will be ready for independent practice at the completion of their training. It rests with training bodies to find alternative assessments for surgical ability and to define experience at the exit point of training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St George's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smelt
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St George's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gopal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soppa
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St George's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Justin L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Nowell
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sion
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barnard
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St George's Hospital, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: marjan.jahangiri@stgeorges.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jahangiri
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006113:United Kingdom