Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Operative Experience Among General Surgery Residents: A Multi-Institutional Study from the US ROPE Consortium.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Publication Title

Annals of surgery

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between race/ethnicity and case volume among graduating surgical residents.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Racial/ethnic minority individuals face barriers to entry and advancement in surgery; however, no large-scale investigations of the operative experience of racial/ethnic minority residents have been performed.

METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective analysis of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) case logs of categorical general surgery residents at 20 ACGME-accredited programs in the US Resident OPerative Experience (ROPE) Consortium database was performed. All residents graduating between 2010-2020 were included. Total, surgeon chief, surgeon junior, and teaching assistant case volumes were compared between racial/ethnic groups.

RESULTS: The cohort included 1343 residents. There were 211 (15.7%) Asian, 65 (4.8%) Black, 73 (5.4%) Hispanic, 71 (5.3%) "Other" (Native American or Multiple Race), and 923 (68.7%) White residents. On adjusted analysis, Black residents performed 76 fewer total cases (95% CI, -109 to -43, P

CONCLUSIONS: In this multi-institutional study, Black residents graduated with lower case volume than non-minority residents throughout the previous decade. Reduced operative learning opportunities may negatively impact professional advancement. Systemic interventions are needed to promote equitable operative experience and positive culture change.

Volume

279

Issue

1

First Page

172

Last Page

179

DOI

10.1097/SLA.0000000000005848

ISSN

1528-1140

PubMed ID

36928294

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