From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI.
J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2021 Feb 15;29(4):139-147. doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-20-00740.
The World Health Organization describes traumatic injuries as a "neglected epidemic" in developing countries, accounting for more deaths annually than HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. Low- and middle-income countries rely on volunteer assistance to address the growing surgical disease burden of traumatic injuries. Efforts to increase the availability of international electives for orthopaedic trainees can help with the short-term need for surgical personnel abroad and facilitate sustainability through capacity building, maximizing long-term benefits for all parties. The volunteer invariably benefits from this cross-cultural experience with many citing improved skills in communication, clinical diagnostics, appreciation of equality and diversity, and cost-consciousness. A consolidated discussion regarding barriers and implementation strategies can assist interested individuals and institutions plan for future volunteering endeavors.
世界卫生组织将创伤性损伤描述为发展中国家的“被忽视的流行病”，其每年导致的死亡人数超过艾滋病、疟疾和结核病的总和。中低收入国家依赖志愿者援助来应对创伤性损伤日益增长的手术疾病负担。增加骨科受训者获得国际实习机会的努力可以满足国外外科人员的短期需求，并通过能力建设实现可持续性，使所有各方都能长期受益。志愿者通常会从这种跨文化体验中受益，许多人表示，他们在沟通、临床诊断、平等和多样性的认识以及成本意识方面的技能得到了提高。关于障碍和实施策略的综合讨论可以帮助有兴趣的个人和机构为未来的志愿工作做好计划。
