K. D. Dansey1, M. Wooster1, M. Shames1 1University Of South Florida College Of Medicine,Vascular Surgery,Tampa, FL, USA
Introduction: The integrated vascular surgery residency is still in its infancy relative to other training paradigms. As such, the SVS Resident and Student Outreach Committee continues to seek ways to improve the program and resident satisfaction. Several existing studies have attempted to assess resident satisfaction; however, these studies primarily focused on two specific areas—general surgery residency and the ACGME work hour restrictions. This is the first survey to assess and quantify the level of satisfaction among the integrated vascular surgery residents. The goals of this survey include identifying stronger rotations to ensure that all programs are maximizing their educational potential and providing a foundation in constructing new vascular programs.
Methods: A 13-question survey was electronically distributed to the members of the SVS Resident listserv. The survey gauged the level of satisfaction with faculty, nonvascular surgery rotations, educational curriculum, operative experience, and interaction with the respective institutions’ general surgery program. Each question was reviewed and approved by an SVS appointed committee. The questions were a combination of multiple choice, free response and 5-point Leichardt scale. Satisfaction was defined as a score of three or higher on a five-point scale.
Results: Of the eligible vascular residents, only 26/173 have responded (0% PGY-1, 38% PGY-2, 27% PGY-3, 8% PGY-4, 27% PGY-5). The majority of trainees reported satisfaction with the faculty, general surgery peers, educational experience, and amount of vascular surgery in the first two years. Critical Care (mean score 4.3), Cardiothoracic (mean score 4) and Trauma/Acute Care Surgery (mean score 3.8) rotations were most commonly deemed highly beneficial to their training. Minimally invasive rotations (mean score 1.8), podiatry (mean score 2), and bariatric surgery (mean score 2) were more consistently felt to be less beneficial. Eighty percent reported 50-75% of their cases are endovascular. Eighty-eight percent reported that the general surgery program director is accommodating to the vascular surgery residents requests. The lowest overall resident satisfaction was with simulation experience (83%), amount of vascular surgery in the first two years (77%), and vascular lab curriculum (88%).
Conclusion: The results of this survey reveal that the majority of responders are satisfied with their residency experience. Cardiothoracic and critical care exposures are the experiences most universally deemed beneficial to overall education, whereas other rotations have more diverse responses, suggesting very program-specific distinctions between the services. As a whole, we have room to improve on simulation and vascular lab exposure for resident education.