Current status and issues regarding surgical education in the region: a questionnaire survey in Oita prefecture in Japan

Abstract

BackgroundThe shortage and aging of surgeons in regional surgical care has been remarkable, and the importance of surgical education for young surgeons in the region is only increasing. However, there are very few reports about regional surgical education. This study aimed to clarify the current status and issues regarding surgical education in regional surgical care and to examine the ideal way to provide surgical education in the region.MethodsTwo questionnaire surveys were carried out. (1) “Survey on the awareness regarding the education of young surgeons” was conducted by mail in institutions where surgeons worked. (2) “Survey on the current status of surgical education for young surgeons” was conducted via the Internet with surgeons under 40 years old and mentors at the same facility.ResultsThere were 175 respondents to survey (1), among whom 131 (75%) surgeons were interested in educating young surgeons, and 112 (64%) were actively participating in this educating. Regarding the best evaluation methods for mentors who are educating young surgeons, the most frequent answer was “I don’t know (51%)”. The number of respondents in survey (2) was 87, including 27 (31%) young surgeons and 60 (69%) mentors. Although there was no difference between young surgeons and mentors in the level of satisfaction with the current status of young surgeons, 37% of young surgeons in urban areas were dissatisfied with their current status, compared to 0% in the regional area (p < 0.05).ConclusionsAlthough surgeons did not have confidence in their own education, the level of satisfaction among young surgeons was high even in those providing regional surgical care. Development of an evaluation system for surgical education is necessary for young surgeons to receive more effective surgical education in the region.