HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Ara A. Vaporciyan Carolyn E. Reed Andrea J. Carpenter Kristine J. Guleserian Walter Merrill Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vaporciyan, A. A. Articles by Merrill, W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Vaporciyan, A. A. Articles by Merrill, W. Related Collections Professional affairs

---

Original Articles: Adult Cardiac

Factors Affecting Interest in Cardiothoracic Surgery: Survey of North American General Surgery Residents

^a Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
^b Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
^c Center for Workforce Studies, Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, DC
^d Division of Thoracic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio
^e Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Children's Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, Texas
^f Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

Accepted for publication February 26, 2009.

^_* Address correspondence to Dr Vaporciyan, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Unit 445, Houston, TX 77030-4009 (Email: avaporci{at}mdanderson.org).

Background: Applications to cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) training programs have declined precipitously. The viewpoints of potential applicants, general surgery residents, have not yet been assessed. Their perceptions are crucial to understanding the cause and formulating appropriate changes in our educational system.

Methods: An initial survey instrument was content-validated, and the final instrument was distributed electronically between March 24 and May 2, 2008 through 251 general surgery program directors to all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited general surgery residents (7,508).

Results: The response rate was 29% (2153 residents; 89% programs). Respondent's demographics matched existing data; 6% were committed to CTS, and 26% reported prior or current interest in CTS. Interest waned after postgraduate year 3. Interest correlated with CTS rotation duration. Of the respondents committed to CTS, 76% had mentors (71% were cardiothoracic surgeons). CTS had the most shortcomings among 9 subspecialties. Job security and availability accounted for 46% of reported shortcomings (3 to 14 times higher than other subspecialties). Work schedule accounted for 25%. Length of training was not a very important factor, although it was identified as an option to increase interest in CTS. Residents who were undecided or uninterested in CTS were twice as likely to cite the ability to balance work and personal life as important than residents who chose CTS.

Conclusions: The dominant concern documented in the survey is job security and availability. The importance of mentorship and exposure to CTS faculty in promoting interest was also evident. Decision makers should consider these findings when planning changes in education and the specialty.