Scholarlink

Introduction <p>Concerns regarding surgical training quality and workforce sustainability are increasing across Europe. In Italy, despite a nationally regulated framework, growing dissatisfaction among trainees and rising numbers of unfilled surgical residency positions suggest systemic shortcomings.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a nationwide, cross-sectional, anonymous online survey coordinated by the Collegio Italiano dei Chirurghi (CIC) and disseminated through surgical societies and residency programs (January–July 2025). Respondents were surgical residents and early-career surgeons across specialties. Primary endpoint was overall training satisfaction; key secondary endpoints included perceived operative exposure and teaching climate, mentorship/governance, and support for specific reforms. Multivariable analysis evaluated associations with dissatisfaction, including sex, age, and geographic macro-area.</p> Results <p>Among 645 valid responses, 68.7% reported dissatisfaction with surgical training. The most frequently cited weaknesses were poor teaching attitudes (51.9%) and inadequate operative exposure (34.7%). Only 25.6% reported adequate primary-operator case volume and 29.5% a supportive teaching environment. Support for reform was high (87.8%), including endorsement of standardized accreditation/competency tracking and structured, paid post-residency fellowships (70.4%). Female trainees reported lower satisfaction than men independent of age and geographic macro-area (adjusted OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.47–0.98), while regional differences were modest.</p> Discussion <p>Despite a formally regulated training system, surgical education in Italy is undermined by fragmented implementation, limited quality assurance, and delayed acquisition of operative autonomy. These deficiencies threaten workforce retention, equity, and long-term healthcare sustainability. Coordinated national reform focusing on governance, accreditation, mentorship, and merit-based progression is urgently needed to align surgical training with contemporary European health-care delivery standards.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Surgery without surgeons: a national wake-up call on the state of surgical training in Italy

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月7日

查看全文
  • Alessandro Giardino,
  • Elisa Bannone,
  • Isabella Frigerio,
  • Roberto Luca Meniconi,
  • Carmelo Romeo,
  • Diego Foschi,
  • Marco Piemonte,
  • Vito Chiantera,
  • Maurizio Brausi,
  • Maria Gabriella Rugiu,
  • Filippo La Torre,
  • Rosario Leonardi,
  • Nicola Avenia,
  • Pietro Forestieri,
  • Vito D’Andrea,
  • Vittorio Creazzo,
  • Vincenzo Maritati,
  • Danilo Mazzacane,
  • Massimo Misiti,
  • Annibale Donini,
  • Massimo Carlini,
  • Mario Nosotti,
  • Andrea Mingoli,
  • Franco Greco,
  • Federico Raveglia,
  • Ramuscello Salvatore,
  • Luciano De Carlis,
  • Pasquale Talento,
  • Gabriele Materazzi,
  • Daniela Rega

摘要

Introduction

Concerns regarding surgical training quality and workforce sustainability are increasing across Europe. In Italy, despite a nationally regulated framework, growing dissatisfaction among trainees and rising numbers of unfilled surgical residency positions suggest systemic shortcomings.

Methods

We conducted a nationwide, cross-sectional, anonymous online survey coordinated by the Collegio Italiano dei Chirurghi (CIC) and disseminated through surgical societies and residency programs (January–July 2025). Respondents were surgical residents and early-career surgeons across specialties. Primary endpoint was overall training satisfaction; key secondary endpoints included perceived operative exposure and teaching climate, mentorship/governance, and support for specific reforms. Multivariable analysis evaluated associations with dissatisfaction, including sex, age, and geographic macro-area.

Results

Among 645 valid responses, 68.7% reported dissatisfaction with surgical training. The most frequently cited weaknesses were poor teaching attitudes (51.9%) and inadequate operative exposure (34.7%). Only 25.6% reported adequate primary-operator case volume and 29.5% a supportive teaching environment. Support for reform was high (87.8%), including endorsement of standardized accreditation/competency tracking and structured, paid post-residency fellowships (70.4%). Female trainees reported lower satisfaction than men independent of age and geographic macro-area (adjusted OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.47–0.98), while regional differences were modest.

Discussion

Despite a formally regulated training system, surgical education in Italy is undermined by fragmented implementation, limited quality assurance, and delayed acquisition of operative autonomy. These deficiencies threaten workforce retention, equity, and long-term healthcare sustainability. Coordinated national reform focusing on governance, accreditation, mentorship, and merit-based progression is urgently needed to align surgical training with contemporary European health-care delivery standards.