C2A - 12: SURGICAL EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY PROGRAM: EARLY EXPOSURE TO SURGICAL SUBSPECIALTIES AND ITS INFLUENCE ON STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF A SURGICAL CAREER
Maria Doubova, BS^*, Katie E Hicks, BS, Remington M Winter, BS^*, Timothy Brandys, MD, Christine Seabrook, Med; University of Ottawa
^*Co-Presenters

Background: Interest in pursuing a surgical career has been declining among Canadian medical students. Numerous factors are known to influence student interest in surgery as a career, such as prestige, income potential, and lifestyle. Given that many of these factors are rooted in bias, it may be possible to properly address several of these stereotypes among medical students through first-hand, early exposure to the field of surgery via the Surgical Exploration and Discovery (SEAD) Program.

Objective: The purpose of this prospective cohort study is twofold: (1) to investigate whether participation in an intensive, 2-week surgical program may alter student opinion, bias, and/or preconceived assumptions of a career in surgery, and (2) to determine whether these changes in perception, if present, have an impact on student interest in pursuing a surgical career compared to baseline.

Participants: The analysis cohort consisted of 59 first-year medical students; 30 who participated in the 2-week SEAD program, and 29 who did not. Both the SEAD group and the Control group completed two surveys: 1) an entry survey distributed prior to the start of the SEAD program, and 2) an exit survey distributed upon completion of the program. The surveys assessed general motivations for choosing a specialty in medicine, previous surgical experience, as well as perceptions and biases surrounding a surgical career.

Results: Students’ perceptions of the lifestyle, call schedule as a staff or resident, diversity of practice and gender changed significantly following the SEAD program compared to students in the control group. Furthermore, students’ perceptions of surgeons as intimidating declined following the two-week program (p=0.003), however they were more likely to view surgery as a field requiring physical strength (p=0.22). Overall, there was no significant change with regards to desire to pursue a career in surgery in the treatment group (p=0.625) or in the control group (p=1.00).

Conclusions: Early exposure to surgery through the SEAD program alters student perceptions of surgical specialties, yet it does not significantly influence students to pursue a career in the surgical field.