Publication
The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Young Neurosurgeons Survey (Part II): Barriers to Professional Development and Service Delivery in Neurosurgery
Journal Paper/Review - May 11, 2020
Robertson Faith C, Al-Ahmari Ahmed Nasser, Samprón Nicolás, Stienen Martin N., Nicolosi Federico, Fontoura Solla Davi J, Adelson P David, Servadei Franco, Al-Habib Amro, Esene Ignatius, Kolias Angelos G, Moscote-Salazar Luis Rafael, Al-Jehani Hosam, Gnanakumar Sujit, Karekezi Claire, Vaughan Kerry, Garcia Roxanna M, Abou El Ela Bourquin Bilal, Derkaoui Hassani Fahd, Alamri Alexander, Mentri Nesrine, Höhne Julius, Laeke Tsegazeab, WFNS Young Neurosurgeons Committee
Units
PubMed
Doi
Citation
Type
Journal
Publication Date
Issn Electronic
Pages
Brief description/objective
Background
Strengthening health systems requires attention to workforce, training needs, and barriers to service delivery. The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Young Neurosurgeons Committee survey sought to identify challenges for residents, fellows, and consultants within 10 years of training.
Methods
An online survey was distributed to various neurosurgical societies, personal contacts, and social media platforms (April-November 2018). Responses were grouped by World Bank income classification into high-income countries (HICs), upper middle-income countries (UMICs), low-middle-income countries (LMICs), and low-income countries (LICs). Descriptive statistical analysis was performed.
Results
In total, 953 individuals completed the survey. For service delivery, the limited number of trained neurosurgeons was seen as a barrier for 12.5%, 29.8%, 69.2%, and 23.9% of respondents from HICs, UMICs, LMICs, and LICs, respectively ( < 0.0001). The most reported personal challenge was the lack of opportunities for research (HICs, 34.6%; UMICs, 57.5%; LMICs, 61.6%; and LICs, 61.5%; = 0.03). Other differences by income class included limited access to advice from experienced/senior colleagues ( < 0.001), neurosurgical journals ( < 0.0001), and textbooks ( = 0.02). Assessing how the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies could best help young neurosurgeons, the most frequent requests ( = 953; 1673 requests) were research ( = 384), education ( = 296), and subspecialty/fellowship training ( = 232). Skills courses and access to cadaver dissection laboratories were also heavily requested.
Conclusions
Young neurosurgeons perceived that additional neurosurgeons are needed globally, especially in LICs and LMICs, and primarily requested additional resources for research and subspecialty training.