Experiences of Italian surgical residents in low-income countries: an analysis from the Italian Polyspecialistic Society of Young Surgeons (SPIGC)

BACKGROUND: Surgery is a developing sector of global health; the insufficient number of surgeons seems to be the primary problem in low-income countries. International experiences in low-income countries are advocated from students and residents, lack of tutoring and different kind of surgeries represent obstacles for the training. The Italian Polyspecialistic Society of Young Surgeons (SPIGC) administered a survey to young surgeons and surgical residents, to examine the reasons they become involved in global surgery during residency and the impact of their experiences on the surgical training. METHODS: A 23-item, anonymous electronic questionnaire was administered to Italian surgical residents and young surgeons (≤40 years of age), coming from any surgical specialty. The study was conducted during January 2020. The study design guaranteed anonymity. RESULTS: All respondents (100%) recommended the experience in the low-income country, and none recommended spending time during the residency in a different way. Moreover, 83% of respondents judged their training as improved. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first Italian survey regarding global surgery experiences in relation to surgical residency. Our results show how Italian medical doctors who travelled in low-income countries during residency recommend this experience to improve knowledge. Surgical residents’ experience in low-income countries should grow, Italian residents are satisfied, and the training should be standardized.