The Benefits of a Residency Sponsored Global Health Trip

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

5-2024

Publication Title

Journal of Urology

Abstract

NTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Urology residency is along and taxing time both physically and mentally. Most residents spend more hours in the hospital than they do at home during their residency training. This means they are often exposed to the experiences of a single hospital, city, or general county area. Most do not have the means or time to travel and experience how urology practices differ around the world. Our residency program has established an annual global health trip, which allows residents the unparalleled opportunity to not only experience, but also provide urologic care in a developing country. METHODS: During their fourth year of training, urology residents are provided with the opportunity to participate in an international trip to Africa. Travel, lodging, and medical supplies are provided through the generosity of philanthropy. The trip involves approximately one week of time spent working in clinic and the operating theatre. Endoscopic and open prostate surgery, lower urinary tract reconstruction, diagnostic radiology tests, and other common urologic procedures are performed daily. Residents are responsible for creating the operating theatre schedule, performing procedures and imaging tests as indicated, and post-operative management. Residents were then asked to complete a surgical skill self-assessment (similar to previously validated surveys) of their pre- and post-trip abilities. RESULTS: A meaningful increase in subjective scores was seen across the entire range of subject areas. The most significant increases were seen in the areas of confidence during open urologic procedures, and comfortability with independent planning and per-forming of open urologic procedures. When these areas were analyzed individually based on overall responses, they showed a mean increase of 1.45 and 1.19 respectively (scale 1-5). Additionally, each subject area showed an improvement from pre- to post-trip scores, with an overall average change of 1.09 when analyzed by group scores. More importantly, each resident rated themselves higher overall on their post- vs pre-trip surveys with a mean increase of 6.5 (range 2-15).CONCLUSIONS: An international global health trip is an unparalleled way to improve urology resident competency and confidence by exposing them to unique and uncomfortable situations. In one week, residents are able to develop surgical skills, mental fortitude, and clinical acumen that would otherwise take much longer. These trips have the added benefit of providing high level training and medical supplies to communities in a developing country with the goal of helping them to continue to deliver high quality care.

Volume

211

Issue

5S

First Page

e359

Last Page

e360

Comments

American Urological Association Annual Meeting, May 3-6, 2024, San Antonio, TX

DOI

10.1097/01.JU.0001008648.33830.32.03

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