Undertrained and ignored: An unfiltered analysis of Italian surgical residency through social media

Purpose: To evaluate the satisfaction of surgical residents, particularly those in general surgery, with their training using social media; to understand the perception of the usefulness of technologies and social media in training; and to assess the current use of these tools by universities. Methods: A survey was conducted between November and December 2022 involving surgical residents reached through a social media funnel built on the profile “Alberto Molteni MD,” and administered via Instagram stories, YouTube Community section, and Google Form. Results: The survey was completed by 377 users enrolled in surgical residencies. Overall, 78% of the population did not feel adequately trained in relation to their expectations, with a request for implementation, especially of the surgical component. A total of 87.7% did not feel prepared for the demands of employment. No significant differences were found between general surgery and other surgical specialties, or between years of training, with the exception of the role held in the operating room ( P = 0.003). Conclusions: Social media can be an effective means of collecting survey data from surgical residents. Most residents do not feel adequately trained or ready for employment, particularly in surgical activities. This study underlines the need for universities and hospitals to explore the use of social media and technological tools in both theoretical and practical training.