FRIDAY, Oct. 20, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- Medical students studying surgery often quit before completing their training. Now, a new study suggests that schools that offer part-time and other flexible training options could boost and maintain students' interest in surgery.
The Web-based survey also found that some residents, fellows and practicing surgeons also would be interested in flexible training options.
"Many of today's medical students have more diverse interests and, when they apply for postgraduate training, may prefer specialties in which a more flexible approach to training (i.e., part time, reduced hours or extended period of time off) is an option to allow them to integrate other professional and family interests," wrote a team from the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville.
Currently in the United States, surgical residencies last a minimum of five years. As many as 20 percent of surgical residents quit their programs before they finish. In most cases, lifestyle concerns are the reason, according to background information in article.
Of the 4,308 medical students and doctors who took part in the survey, 20 percent to 30 percent said they'd accept a residency that lasted longer than five years if they could train part time, but few said they'd accept an extension to more than seven years.
The survey also found that 36 percent of female and 24 percent of male medical students said a more flexible approach to training would make them more likely to choose a career in surgery.
"Flexible options should be available for those who need it who might otherwise feel unable to pursue or continue in a surgical career," the study authors wrote. "For example, the availability of protected time off could permit a surgeon in training to tend to a personal crisis for a family emergency, whereas, without this option, he or she may have to resign from a program with no guarantee of being able to finish training."
"In light of recent concerns about decreasing applications to general surgery training programs and a need to appeal to students with greater interest in controllable lifestyle careers, a more flexible approach to surgical training could boost interest and improve applicant caliber," the authors noted.
"Because the upcoming generation is less willing than previous ones to sacrifice quality of life, academic medicine will lose both women and men if greater work balance is not achievable," they concluded.
The study was published in the October issue of the Archives of Surgery.
More information
The American Medical Association has more about medical specialties.
