Surgical resident satisfaction with the current surgical training program in the Riyadh area

<b>Background: </b> The satisfaction of surgical residents with their training programs plays an important role in dictating its output. This survey was conducted to explore the satisfaction of surgical residents with their training programs in the Riyadh area. <b> Methods: </b> A survey questionnaire was distributed in four major hospitals to explore the view of surgical residents regarding their training programs. Frequency tables were generated for each question in the survey. <b> Results: </b> About 78 survey forms were distributed and 52 were retrieved (67&#x0025;). About 45&#x0025; of residents had a comprehensive orientation on admission to the program, but only 20&#x0025; felt it was helpful. Only 40&#x0025; of residents felt that their trainers were committed to training and that the consultants who were trained abroad were more committed than those trained locally (62&#x0025; <i> vs</i> 36&#x0025;, <i> P</i> =.01). Only 15&#x0025; felt the residents themselves had enough bedside teaching or operative experience. Seventy-eight percent of the residents felt that current training does not meet their expectations. However, 85&#x0025; felt that training abroad was better than local training, and 60&#x0025; felt it should be mandatory. While 90&#x0025; felt that training programs should be unified nationally and controlled by one organization, only 6&#x0025; felt that the current governing body was capable of monitoring the training. Moreover, only 28&#x0025; felt that current reviews of programs by the governing body are effective. <b>Conclusions: </b> These results show that surgical residents are generally dissatisfied with current training programs. The study suggests that there are significant weaknesses in the current programs and the governing body may be ineffective in monitoring the programs. We feel that a national review of surgical training programs is warranted in view of these results

Minimally invasive surgery versus open surgery for the treatment of solid abdominal and thoracic neoplasms in children.

Contains fulltext : 88925.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is an accepted surgical technique for the treatment of a variety of benign diseases. Presently, the use of MIS in patients with cancer is progressing. However, the role of MIS in children with solid neoplasms is less clear than it is in adults. Diagnostic MIS to obtain biopsy specimens for pathology has been accepted as a technique in paediatric surgical oncology, but there is limited experience with the use of MIS for the resection of malignancies. OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the differences in outcome between the minimally invasive and open approach in the treatment of solid intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal neoplasms in children, regarding overall survival, event-free survival, port-site metastases, recurrence rate and surgical morbidity. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the electronic databases of MEDLINE/PubMed (from 1966 to March 2008), EMBASE/Ovid (from 1980 to March 2008) and CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2008, Issue 1) with pre-specified terms. In addition, we searched reference lists of relevant articles and reviews, conference proceedings and ongoing trial databases. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials (CCTs) comparing MIS and open surgery for the treatment of solid intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal neoplasms in children (aged 0 to 18 years). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors performed the study selection independently. MAIN RESULTS: No studies that met the inclusion criteria of this review were identified. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: No RCTs or CCTs evaluating MIS in the treatment of solid intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal neoplasms in children could be identified, therefore no definitive conclusions could be made about the effects of MIS in these patients. Based on the currently available evidence we are not able to give recommendations for the use of MIS in the treatment of solid intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal neoplasms in children. More high quality studies (RCTs and/or CCTs) are needed. To accomplish this, centres specialising in MIS in children should collaborate