Department of Surgery, Mid-Western Regional Hospital, University of Limerick Graduate Medical School, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Republic of Ireland.
Ir J Med Sci. 2012 Dec;181(4):459-62. doi: 10.1007/s11845-011-0784-3. Epub 2012 Aug 15.
The delivery of general paediatric surgery is changing in Ireland. Fewer paediatric surgical procedures are being performed by newly appointed consultant general surgeons, resulting in increased referrals to the specialist paediatric surgeons of uncomplicated general paediatric surgical problems. We surveyed current higher surgical trainees about their views on provision of paediatric surgical services.
A questionnaire regarding provision of paediatric surgery was developed by incorporating dichotomous and qualitative questions. This was emailed to all higher surgical trainees in Ireland. Responses were analysed anonymously.
There was a response rate of 54%. Most questions drew divided responses. More than half of the responders were opposed to mandatory paediatric surgical training on their scheme and would not be willing to provide paediatric surgery as a consultant. The most common reasons were limited training time and the unlikelihood of becoming competent in paediatric surgery with brief exposure. Sixty-four percent of responders felt that general paediatric surgery should be provided by paediatric surgeons in the future.
The opinions expressed here suggest that the current system of local provision of general paediatric surgery is unsustainable. Alternative training arrangements or regionalisation of paediatric surgery may be necessary to avoid overwhelming specialist paediatric centres.
爱尔兰的普通儿科手术服务正在发生变化。新任命的顾问普外科医生进行的儿科手术越来越少，导致简单的普通儿科手术问题向专业儿科外科医生的转诊增加。我们调查了目前的高级外科培训师对提供儿科外科服务的看法。
通过纳入二项式和定性问题，制定了一份关于提供儿科手术的问卷。将其通过电子邮件发送给爱尔兰所有的高级外科培训师。对回复进行匿名分析。
回复率为 54%。大多数问题的答案都不一致。超过一半的回答者反对在他们的计划中进行强制性儿科手术培训，也不愿意担任顾问提供儿科手术。最常见的原因是培训时间有限，并且由于接触时间短，不太可能在儿科手术方面变得熟练。64%的回答者认为未来应由儿科外科医生提供普通儿科手术。
这里表达的观点表明，目前由当地提供普通儿科手术的系统是不可持续的。可能需要替代培训安排或儿科手术的区域化，以避免专科儿科中心不堪重负。
