Trauma training in Australia and New Zealand: Results of a survey of advanced surgical trainees

Background: The surgical management of trauma within Australia and New Zeal and has recently been undergoing major organizational changes. The aim of t he present paper was to evaluate the attitudes and experience of Australian and New Zealand advanced surgical trainees in this changing climate and to identify problems with trauma training. Methods: A survey assessing important areas of trauma management and traini ng was sent to all advanced surgical trainees of the Royal Australasian Col lege of Surgeons. Results. Two hundred and seventy-two of 587 trainees responded (46%). Overa ll 85% of trainees believed they would be involved in trauma management in the future. The majority of trainees reported low rates of involvement and consultant supervision in trauma resuscitations. Only 32% of general surgic al trainees believed that their exposure to major trauma operations was Ver y adequate despite an average of 12.3 trauma operations per year. Seventy p er cent of general surgical trainees reported a very adequate level of cons ultant supervision at trauma operations. In contrast 86% of orthopaedic tra inees reported a very adequate exposure to trauma operations with an averag e of 221 orthopaedic trauma operations per year. Only 46% of orthopaedic tr ainees reported a very adequate level of consultant supervision at trauma o perations. Conclusions: Regional rotations may need to be developed to even out traine es' experience in trauma management. The low level of supervision in trauma resuscitations and orthopaedic surgical training requires attention. This survey warrants repeating in a prospective manner.