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Analysing the operative experience of paediatric surgical trainees in Sub-Saharan Africa using a web-based logbook.

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posted on 2021-01-11, 14:08 authored by Ciaran Mooney, Sean TierneySean Tierney, Eric O'FlynnEric O'Flynn, Miliard Derbew, Eric Borgstein

Background: The expansion of local training programmes is crucial to address the shortages of specialist paediatric surgeons across Sub-Saharan Africa. This study assesses whether the current training programme for paediatric surgery at the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) is exposing trainees to adequate numbers and types of surgical procedures, as defined by local and international guidelines.

Methods: Using data from the COSECSA web-based logbook, we retrospectively analysed numbers and types of operations carried out by paediatric surgical trainees at each stage of training between 2015 and 2019, comparing results with indicative case numbers from regional (COSECSA) and international (Joint Commission on Surgical Training) guidelines.

Results: A total of 7,616 paediatric surgical operations were recorded by 15 trainees, at different stages of training, working across five countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Each trainee recorded a median number of 456 operations (range 56-1111), with operative experience increasing between the first and final year of training. The most commonly recorded operation was inguinal hernia (n = 1051, 13.8%). Trainees performed the majority (n = 5607, 73.6%) of operations recorded in the eLogbook themselves, assisting in the remainder. Trainees exceeded both local and international recommended case numbers for general surgical procedures, with little exposure to sub-specialities.

Conclusions: Trainees obtain a wide experience in common and general paediatric surgical procedures, the number of which increases during training. Post-certification may be required for those who wish to sub-specialise. The data from the logbook are useful in identifying individuals who may require additional experience and centres which should be offering increased levels of supervised surgical exposure.

Funding

Irish Aid as part of a wider capacity development collaborative project between the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa.

History

Comments

The original article is available at https://link.springer.com/

Published Citation

Mooney C, Tierney S, O'Flynn E, Derbew M, Borgstein E. Analysing the operative experience of paediatric surgical trainees in Sub-Saharan Africa using a web-based logbook. World Journal of Surgery. 2020

Publication Date

8 December 2020

PubMed ID

33289874

Department/Unit

  • Institute of Global Surgery
  • Surgical Affairs

Research Area

  • Surgical Science and Practice

Publisher

Springer

Version

  • Published Version (Version of Record)