Goodman Dáire T, Joyce Kenneth M
Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Galway University Hospital, Galway, Ireland.
Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Galway University Hospital, Galway, Ireland.
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2025 Jul;106:145-147. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2025.05.017. Epub 2025 May 14.
Aesthetic surgery remains a core domain within plastic surgery training in the UK and Ireland. However, limited operative exposure has led to concerns about trainee preparedness. This study aimed to assess Irish plastic surgery trainees' perspectives on aesthetic training and identify practical solutions to address current deficits. A national cross-sectional survey was distributed to all 26 plastic surgery trainees in the Republic of Ireland, achieving an 85% response rate (n = 22). Data were collected anonymously via REDCap and analysed descriptively. Eighty-one percent of trainees desired more aesthetic exposure, yet only 18% felt confident in reaching the required aesthetic competencies by completion of training. The principal barriers included a lack of aesthetic procedures in public hospitals (86%) and difficulty attending private lists due to service commitments (82%). Half of the respondents rotated through posts with private sector aesthetic exposure, but access was ad hoc and variable. Aesthetic surgery was the most commonly chosen subspecialty interest (50%), and 68% expressed interest in a funded national fellowship. Despite the inclusion of aesthetic surgery within the Intercollegiate curriculum, the mismatch between training structure and trainee aspirations risks producing underprepared graduates. International models-such as resident-led clinics and private sector rotations-have improved confidence and competence abroad and may be adaptable to the Irish context. We propose three strategies: structured collaboration with private providers, development of resident-led clinics, and a national aesthetic fellowship. These findings underscore the need for targeted reforms to improve training quality, align with certification standards, and support future workforce needs in aesthetic surgery.
在英国和爱尔兰，美容外科仍然是整形外科培训的核心领域。然而，手术操作机会有限引发了对学员准备情况的担忧。本研究旨在评估爱尔兰整形外科实习生对美容培训的看法，并确定解决当前不足的实际方案。向爱尔兰共和国所有26名整形外科实习生开展了一项全国性横断面调查，回复率为85%（n = 22）。通过REDCap以匿名方式收集数据并进行描述性分析。81%的实习生希望有更多的美容手术实操机会，但只有18%的人认为在完成培训后有信心达到所需的美容技能水平。主要障碍包括公立医院缺乏美容手术程序（86%）以及由于工作任务难以参与私立医院的手术安排（82%）。一半的受访者曾轮转至有私立美容外科手术实操机会的岗位，但机会是临时且多变的。美容外科是最常被选择的亚专业方向（50%），68%的人表示对获得资助的全国性奖学金感兴趣。尽管美容外科已纳入校际课程，但培训结构与学员期望之间的不匹配可能导致毕业生准备不足。诸如住院医师主导的诊所和私立机构轮转等国际模式已在国外提高了信心和能力，并且可能适用于爱尔兰的情况。我们提出三项策略：与私立机构进行结构化合作、发展住院医师主导的诊所，以及设立全国性美容外科奖学金。这些发现强调了进行有针对性改革的必要性，以提高培训质量、符合认证标准，并满足未来美容外科劳动力的需求。
