Training, Research, and Working Conditions for Urology Residents in Germany

TY - JOUR

T1 - Training, Research, and Working Conditions for Urology Residents in Germany

T2 - A Contemporary Survey

AU - Borgmann, Hendrik

AU - Arnold, Hannah K

AU - Meyer, Christian P

AU - Bründl, Johannes

AU - König, Justus

AU - Nestler, Tim

AU - Ruf, Christian

AU - Struck, Julian

AU - Salem, Johannes

N1 - Copyright © 2016 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PY - 2018/4

Y1 - 2018/4

N2 - BACKGROUND: Excellent uniform training of urology residents is crucial to secure both high-quality patient care and the future of our specialty. Residency training has come under scrutiny following the demands of subspecialized care, economical aspects, and working hour regulations.OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively assess the surgical training, research opportunities, and working conditions among urology residents in Germany.DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We sent a 29-item online survey via email to 721 members of the German Society of Residents in Urology.OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive analyses were conducted to describe the surveys' four domains: (1) baseline characteristics, (2) surgical training (cumulative completed case volume for all minor-, medium-, and major-complexity surgeries), (3) research opportunities, and (4) working conditions.RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Four hundred and seventy-two residents completed the online survey (response rate 65%). Surgical training: the median number of cumulative completed cases for postgraduate yr (PGY)-5 residents was 113 (interquartile range: 76-178). Minor surgeries comprised 57% of all surgeries and were performed by residents in all PGYs. Medium-complexity surgeries comprised 39% of all surgeries and were mostly performed by residents in PGYs 2-5. Major surgeries comprised 4% of all surgeries and were occasionally performed by residents in PGYs 3-5. Research opportunities: some 44% have attained a medical thesis (Dr. med.), and 39% are currently pursuing research. Working conditions: psychosocial work-related stress was high and for 82% of residents their effort exceeded their rewards. Some 44% were satisfied, 32% were undecided, and 24% were dissatisfied with their current working situation. Limitations include self-reported survey answers and a lack of validated assessment tools.CONCLUSIONS: Surgical exposure among German urology residents is low and comprises minor and medium-complex surgeries. Psychosocial work-related stress is high for the vast majority of residents indicating the need for structural improvements in German urology residency training.PATIENT SUMMARY: In this study, we evaluated the surgical training, research opportunities, and working conditions among urology residents in Germany. We found low surgical exposure and high rates for psychosocial work-related stress, indicating the need for structural improvements in German urology residency training.

AB - BACKGROUND: Excellent uniform training of urology residents is crucial to secure both high-quality patient care and the future of our specialty. Residency training has come under scrutiny following the demands of subspecialized care, economical aspects, and working hour regulations.OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively assess the surgical training, research opportunities, and working conditions among urology residents in Germany.DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We sent a 29-item online survey via email to 721 members of the German Society of Residents in Urology.OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive analyses were conducted to describe the surveys' four domains: (1) baseline characteristics, (2) surgical training (cumulative completed case volume for all minor-, medium-, and major-complexity surgeries), (3) research opportunities, and (4) working conditions.RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Four hundred and seventy-two residents completed the online survey (response rate 65%). Surgical training: the median number of cumulative completed cases for postgraduate yr (PGY)-5 residents was 113 (interquartile range: 76-178). Minor surgeries comprised 57% of all surgeries and were performed by residents in all PGYs. Medium-complexity surgeries comprised 39% of all surgeries and were mostly performed by residents in PGYs 2-5. Major surgeries comprised 4% of all surgeries and were occasionally performed by residents in PGYs 3-5. Research opportunities: some 44% have attained a medical thesis (Dr. med.), and 39% are currently pursuing research. Working conditions: psychosocial work-related stress was high and for 82% of residents their effort exceeded their rewards. Some 44% were satisfied, 32% were undecided, and 24% were dissatisfied with their current working situation. Limitations include self-reported survey answers and a lack of validated assessment tools.CONCLUSIONS: Surgical exposure among German urology residents is low and comprises minor and medium-complex surgeries. Psychosocial work-related stress is high for the vast majority of residents indicating the need for structural improvements in German urology residency training.PATIENT SUMMARY: In this study, we evaluated the surgical training, research opportunities, and working conditions among urology residents in Germany. We found low surgical exposure and high rates for psychosocial work-related stress, indicating the need for structural improvements in German urology residency training.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1016/j.euf.2016.12.001

DO - 10.1016/j.euf.2016.12.001

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 28753833

VL - 4

SP - 455

EP - 460

JO - EUR UROL FOCUS

JF - EUR UROL FOCUS

SN - 2405-4569

IS - 3

ER -