Interest In Surgical Field Research Articles

Musculoskeletal disorders and discomfort for female surgeons or surgeons with small hand size when using hand-held surgical instruments: a systematic review

BackgroundWork-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), also referred to as work-related musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs), cause surgeons pain and discomfort. Implementing ergonomics in the operating room has helped reduce such symptoms. However, there are still many issues that surgeons face when dealing with medical instruments, especially among female surgeons or surgeons with smaller hands.MethodsThe Cochrane methodology for performing a systematic review was utilized to search five databases for pertinent literature based on the study question “Do female surgeons or surgeons with smaller hand size, who use surgical instruments have an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders and discomfort compared to male or larger handed surgeons?”. The literature search strategy was designed around the three conceptual domains of surgeons/surgery, smaller hand size, and instrumentation. We searched PubMed, Embase.com, CINAHL Plus with Full Text (EBSCOhost), Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection. This exploration identified 2165 research publications, and after specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, 19 studies were included in the systematic review. Risk of bias analysis was conducted to assess the quality of the included studies. After conducting a heterogeneity test, a meta-analysis was not performed due to high heterogeneity.ResultsUsing certain surgical instruments presents challenges in the form of MSKIs for female and smaller-handed surgeons. Studies showed that 77% of females and 73% of surgeons who wear < 6.5 glove size report musculoskeletal issues ranging from difficulty of use to pain. Difficulties using surgical instruments and reported injuries have a greater impact on surgical trainees which might deter interest in surgical fields for future proceduralists. Recommendations for improved ergonomic tool design are suggested by some of the included studies to help tackle the MSKIs that surgeons face when performing operations.ConclusionsThe number of female surgeons has increased substantially in the last decade. Hence, there exists an urgent need to address the major challenges they encounter by focusing on this specific aspect of workplace safety and health to mitigate injury. Doing so will yield a productive environment while simultaneously protecting the health and safety of both surgeons and patients.Systematic review registrationThe study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022283378).

The PreOp Program: Intensive Preclinical Surgical Exposure is Associated With Increased Medical Student Surgical Interest and Competency

As medical students' interest in surgical fields wanes, we investigated the impact of a preclinical surgical exposure program on students' attitudes toward pursuing surgical careers. This is a prospective longitudinal study of PreOp, a preclinical rotation-based surgical exposure program for first-year medical students, from 2013 to 2017. Surveys assessed PreOp rotation quality, students' surgical interest, and students' self-reported preparedness for the surgical clerkship. Surgery clerkship grades were obtained as a measure of surgical competency and compared to class-wide peers. Match data was collected and compared to class-wide peers as well as historical norms. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY; tertiary care center. Fifty-four PreOp students from 2013 to 2017. Fifty-four PreOp participants were recruited. After completing the PreOp program, 66.7% of PreOp students reported being very likely to apply into a surgical field compared to 29.4% when they started medical school. Ultimately, 71.4% of PreOp students versus 21.7% of non-PreOp class-wide peers matched into surgical fields (p < 0.001). From the preceding 5 match years before PreOp implementation, 21.4% of all students matched into surgical fields compared to 25.6% of all students after PreOp was started (p = 0.26). In terms of preparedness, 75% of PreOp students reported feeling more prepared for the third-year surgery clerkship than their non-PreOp peers after the second year of medical school. PreOp students were significantly more likely than non-PreOp class-wide peers to receive honors in the surgery clerkship when controlling for cumulative clerkship GPA (p = 0.012, adjusted odds ratio = 5.5 [95% confidence interval 1.5-22.1]). Hands-on preclinical surgical exposure was associated with student-reported increased surgical interest that was maintained longitudinally and reflected in significantly increased surgical matches relative to non-PreOp class-wide peers. This study uniquely demonstrates that participation in PreOp was also associated with increased self-reported surgical preparedness and significantly higher surgery clerkship grades relative to overall academic performance.

The Impact of Ergonomics on Recruitment to Surgical Fields: A Multi-Institutional Survey Study

BackgroundAwareness of ergonomics in surgery is growing, but whether musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries in surgery influence trainee career choices remains unknown. This study aimed to characterize medical students’ MSK pain during surgical rotations and determine whether ergonomics influence student interest in surgical fields. MethodsAn online survey was administered to medical students in North Carolina. Students were asked about specialty interest, MSK pain on surgical rotations, and deterrents from surgical fields. Students were exposed to literature about ergonomics in surgery then queried again about relative specialty interest (medical versus surgical). Differences in specialty interest before and after the exposure were compared using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. ResultsOf 243 participants, 44.0% were interested in pursuing a surgical specialty. Overall, 75.3% reported MSK pain during their surgical rotation, with the average daily pain score highest during surgery rotations compared to all other clinical rotations. The worst pain was reported in the feet and low back while “standing in the operating room” (81.2%) or “retracting” (59.4%). Among students initially interested in surgery but whose interest changed to a medical specialty during medical school, “physical demands of the field” was a common deterrent (36.4%). After exposure to literature regarding the incidence of MSK injuries in surgery, student interest in surgical fields on a 10-point scale significantly decreased (average −0.5 points; P < 0.01). ConclusionsHigh incidence of MSK injury among surgeons may be one factor deterring medical students from surgical careers. Ergonomic interventions may be important both to improve surgeon longevity and maintain the surgical workforce.

Factors affecting attitude of medical students to pursue surgical career

Background: Medical students are always in a dilemma for their career choice after under-graduation as there are multiple options and none of the choices come without any drawbacks. Multiple factors determine their preferences.Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors that determine career choice and to discuss how it affects the students in taking surgery as their career.Methods: A questionnaire was developed which included factors that encourage and also influence students to consider surgery as their career. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 292 participants and they were divided into two groups, preclinical and clinical students. The collected data was tabulated and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.Results: Out of the 292 students, 144 (49.32%) were males and 148 (50.68%) were females. Of the total, 233 (79.8%) students thought of choosing surgery as their career while 41 (14.04%) of the students disagreed for choosing surgery. Among the 233 students, 76 (32.6%) were from preclinical and 157 (67.38%) were clinical students. Better earning and role model influenced them to take surgery as their career whereas lack of private life and great dedication were the deterrent factors.Conclusion: There are various factors that affect students’ preference in opting for surgical career. Even though this study reveals many factors contributing towards one’s interest in surgical field, it was not statistically significant, and hence, the conclusive results could not be drawn.Journal of Kathmandu Medical CollegeVol. 5, No. 3, Issue 17, Jul.-Sep., 2016, page: 85-88

Assessment of a course of realistic surgical training during medical education as a tool for pre-residential surgical training.

BackgroundIn recent years the focus on practical skills in the German curriculum of medical school has increased greatly. In this study we evaluate the value of a practical surgery course for medical students as a tool for surgical education, as a way of enhancing interest in surgical fields, and as a method of influencing medical students to subsequently choose a surgical career.MethodsThe “Feel like a surgeon”-course is an optional practical surgery course in which topographical anatomy and realistic surgical training using fresh human cadavers are combined for medical students of the RWTH Aachen University. Between 2010 and 2015 every student completed a survey before starting and after completing our course, and in 2015 a follow-up was performed. Using a standardized questionnaire, course quality, learning success and impact on post-instructional career and choice of profession was evaluated.ResultsIn total, 82 students attended our course between 2010 and 2015 and took part in the evaluation. Evaluation of the course was positive overall, with an average grade of 1.4° ± °0.50. Significant improvement of basic, as well as more complex surgical skills and theoretical knowledge was noted. Furthermore, self-confidence for patient related assignments improved as well. In the follow-up evaluation, a high level of recommendation for surgical residents was seen, as was a high influence of the course on our students’ career choice, although no significant change in career plans before and after taking the course was noted.ConclusionsOur results indicate that a practical surgical course can be a valuable tool to prepare students for a surgical residency and to improve their practical skills generally.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12909-016-0568-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.