50. Health advocacy in surgical training: A Canadian survey on attitudes and experience in urology residency

Abstract

We sought to assess surgical residents’ perceptions and attitudes toward health advocacy in residency training and practice by administering an anonymous, cross-sectional, self-report questionnaire to all final year urology residents in Canadian training programs.
 The survey was closed-ended and employed a 5-point Likert scale designed to assess familiarity with the concept of health advocacy and its application and importance to training and practice. Descriptive and correlative statistics were used to analyze the responses.
 There was a 93% response rate from the chief residents. Most residents were well aware of the role of health advocate in urology, and a majority (68%) believe it to be important in residency training and in the urologist’s role in practice. However, a minority (7-25%) agreed that formal training or mentorship in health advocacy was available at their institution, and only 21-39% felt that they had employed its principles in the clinic or community. Only 4-7% or residents surveyed were aware of or had participated in local urologic health advocacy groups.
 Despite knowledge and acceptance of the importance of the health advocate role, there is a perceived lack of formal training and a dearth of participation during urologic residency training.
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