title: Winning Hearts and Minds: Inspiring Medical Students into Cardiothoracic Surgery Through Highly Interactive Workshops.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cardiothoracic surgical (CTS) specialty has witnessed a decline in the applicant pool. Early exposure, positive experiences, inspiring role models, and career insight are key in the decision-making process for specialty choice. Our objective was to assess the effect of high tutor:student ratio interactive CTS workshops in influencing the career choice of UK undergraduate medical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical students attended a workshop comprising (1) guided dissection of fresh animal hearts, (2) surgical skills practice on models and fresh hearts, (3) operative videos (adult, congenital, transplant, and aortic) with interactive commentary, and (4) careers seminar. The tutor:student ratio was very high (between 3-1 and 5-1). A questionnaire was completed at the end of each workshop to assess its effect, including a 10-point Likert scale on the perceived attraction to CTS before and after the workshop.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 96 delegates attended 5 workshops in 3 UK medical schools. Response rate was 83% from 80 undergraduate students. In all, 58% were male (46/80). There was an equal proportion of sexes in the early years of medical school, but was significantly skewed toward male in the later years. There was a statistically significant increase of 2.1 (standard deviation [SD] = 1.5) in the Likert scores before (μ = 5.0, SD = 2.1) and after (μ = 7.1, SD = 1.9) (p = 0.001). This represents a 42% increase in the perceived attraction to the CTS specialty because of the workshops.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our workshops have a significant effect in stimulating undergraduate medical students toward a career in cardiothoracic surgery. We encourage national take-up of these easily organized daylong workshops to foster interest in the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons.
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, United Kingdom. Electronic address: joseph.george@doctors.org.uk.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: George
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Combellack
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, United Kingdom.
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Lopez-Marco
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, United Kingdom.
authors: Umair
authors: U
authors: Aslam
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, United Kingdom.
authors: Yasir
authors: Y
authors: Ahmed
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors: Prakash
authors: P
authors: Nanjaiah
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, United Kingdom.
authors: Aprim
authors: A
authors: Youhana
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, United Kingdom.
authors: Pankaj
authors: P
authors: Kumar
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D003657:Decision Making; D004493:Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Interpersonal and Communication Skills; Practice-Based Learning and Improvement; career choice; recruitment; surgical training; thoracic surgery