1. The State of General Surgery: A Different Perspective
Foley PJ, Roses RE, Pray LA, Kelz RR, Resnick AS, Williams NN, Mullen JL, Kaiser LR, Morris JB

2. Changing Learning Climate in Surgical Training
ACGME-mandated duty-hour restrictions (2003)
Physician extenders
Training paradigms for subspecialties
Fellowship training
Traditional instruction threatened

3. What Do The Residents Think?

4. Methods 38-Question Web-Based Survey
Sent via to PD’s at all ACGME-Accredited General Surgery Training Programs
Voluntary Responses Collected March – June, 2007
Responses Graded on a 7-Point Scale
1 = Strongly Disagree
4 = Neutral
7 = Strongly Agree

5. National Resident Survey
This slide represents several questions from the web-based survey and the 7 point scale used to score the responses from strongly disagree to strongly agree

6. Results 997 Responses (14% of Categorical Surgery Residents) 40 States
Mean Program Size: 6 Chief Residents (range 2-11)
79% University-Based Residency Programs
30% Female
All Clinical Years Well-Represented
PGY-5: 15.6%
PGY-4: 16%
PGY-3: 25.5%
PGY-2: 22%
PGY-1: 20.9%

7. Surgical Resident Diversity
67%
14.1%
5.6%
3.4%
4.9%
4.8%
The racial composition among the survey respondents was consistent with recent literature.
67% Caucasian
14.1% Asian
5.6% Hispanic
3.4% AA
4.9% Other
4.8% Declined

8. Fellowship Intentions (Chief Residents)
18%
13%
13%

9. Perceptions of Surgical Training
86%
85%
85%
84%
71%
63%

10. Perceptions of Quality of Life
74%
70%
62%
36%

11. Perceptions of ACGME Duty-Hour Restrictions
82%
80%
70%
47%
47%

12. Perceptions of ACGME-Duty Hour Restrictions

13. Perceptions of Surgery as a Profession
88%
87%
77%
70%

14. Conclusions Surgical Residents are positive about their training.
Most feel poorly compensated.
Majority intend to pursue fellowship training.
Residents are less certain about the effects of ACGME duty-hour restrictions on their training and patient care.
Survey may be a useful tool for assessment and comparison.