| Contributors: |
Mauro, Podda; Marcello, Di Martino; Francesco, Pata; Giuseppe, Nigri; Adolfo, Pisanu; Salomone, Di Saverio; Gianluca, Pellino; Benedetto, Ielpo; Negash Tolla, Ashenafi; Abdelkhalek, Mohamed; Emile, Sameh; Aga Dinagde, Tesfaye; Bouzid, Chafik; Mohammed Farid Mahmoud Mansour, Ahmed; Umar Garzali, Ibrahim; Berhe Aregawi, Alazar; Zaghloul, Tarek M.; Kchaou, Ali; Awad, Selmy S.; Souadka, Amine; Gebretsadik Ted, Tedla; Saad Saumtally, Mohammad; Ahmed, Bensaad; Simegnew Bayileyegn, Nebiyou; Nunziante, Marco; Shalaby, Mostafa; Gebregiorgis Debena, Dawit; Shanko Zena, Alemayehu; Lukman Adewunmi, Olayinka; Negasa, Tolera A.; Aboulkacem Bourguiba, Mohamed; Feituri, Nura; Abebe Kebede, Kirubel; Elfeki, Hossam; Anas, Abdelhmed; Awad, Ahmed K.; Ermias, Nebiyou; Hailemariam, Dagnachew H.; Hundie Bejiga, Gosa; Yoseph Imana, Ruhama; Taffese, Abebe; Terefe Feleke, Tsega; Mohamed Elghadban, Hosam; Sime Debela, Bizuneh; Shiferaw, Desta; Tadesse, Robel; Sunday Chukwu, Isaac; Ibrahim Mohammed, Abdullahi; Arebo Hassen, Khalid; Obiagwu, Ndubuisi K.; Tense, Tadesse H.; Taeme, Mulugeta; Biniam, Ewnte; Knfe Tesfay, Goytom; Getachew Tegegn, Ayenachew; Abule Bilata Teddy, Tewodro; Bekana, Bekana L.; Kibret Nidaw, Melkamu; Ibrahim Ali, Mahmoud; Bekele Gonfa, Kebebe; Kiros, Samuel; Belay, Tatek; Mengist Yallew, Gebeyaw; Wassie, Chekol; Mekete Ayalew, Alem; Terefe Asfaw, Fitsum; Khan Aimal, Aimal; Agustina Casas, Maria; Madrid, Fausto A.; Antonio Diaz-Elizondo, Jose; Guillermo Merlo, Ignacio; De Campos, Tercio; Schlottmann, Francisco; Augusto Gomes, Carlo; Efrén Lozada Hernández, Edgard; Moncada-Ortega, Augusto; Ramos-De la Medina, Antonio; Vanerio, Patricio; Morales, Emilio J.; Beth Stringfield, Sarah; Gallardo, Cristian; Cordeiro Fonseca, Viniciu; Emilia Muriel, Maria; Cantarino, Frederico; Fichera, Alessandro; Rodriguez, Agustin E.; Paúl Andrade Salinas, Roberto; Gabriel Crosbie, Gonzalo; Augusto Metidieri Menegozzo, Carlo; Avellaneda, Nicola; Gonzalo Aspiazu Briones, Cristhian; Varela, Cristopher; Lichliter, Warren E.; Varela, Cristopher L.; Koppel, Darren; Godoy Lenz, Jorge; Pascual, Franco |
| Description: |
The workload of general surgeons is multifaceted, encompassing not only surgical procedures but also a myriad of other responsibilities. From April to May 2023, we conducted a CHERRIES-compliant internet-based survey analyzing clinical practice, academic engagement, and post-on-call rest. The questionnaire featured six sections with 35 questions. Statistical analysis used Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression (SPSS® v. 28). The survey received a total of 1.046 responses (65.4%). Over 78.0% of responders came from Europe, 65.1% came from a general surgery unit; 92.8% of European and 87.5% of North American respondents were involved in research, compared to 71.7% in Africa. Europe led in publishing research studies (6.6 ± 8.6 yearly). Teaching involvement was high in North America (100%) and Africa (91.7%). Surgeons reported an average of 6.7 ± 4.9 on-call shifts per month, with European and North American surgeons experiencing 6.5 ± 4.9 and 7.8 ± 4.1 on-calls monthly, respectively. African surgeons had the highest on-call frequency (8.7 ± 6.1). Post-on-call, only 35.1% of respondents received a day off. Europeans were most likely (40%) to have a day off, while African surgeons were least likely (6.7%). On the adjusted multivariable analysis HDI (Human Development Index) (aOR 1.993) hospital capacity > 400 beds (aOR 2.423), working in a specialty surgery unit (aOR 2.087), and making the on-call in-house (aOR 5.446), significantly predicted the likelihood of having a day off after an on-call shift. Our study revealed critical insights into the disparities in workload, access to research, and professional opportunities for surgeons across different continents, underscored by the HDI. |