Abstract Background This study aims to investigate whether differential attainment in operative numbers and supervision levels exist in the General Surgery Specialty Registrar (GS StR) population, and, if so, whether this contributes to a risk of poorer ARCP outcomes. Methods Demographic data from Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP) were linked to trainee operative records (eLogbook, 2018–2023). Poisson regression was used to analyse monthly procedure counts per trainee with results presented as Incident Rate Ratios (IRR). Log regression was used to examine the relationship between operative rates and developmental ARCP Outcomes, reported as Odds Ratios (OR). IRR/OR values 1 indicate increases, while values 1 indicate decreases relative to the comparator group. Results A total of 1,671 General Surgery StRs were analysed. Female trainees logged only 2% fewer operations overall compared to male peers (IRR 0.98, 95% CI:0.98–0.99). Older trainees (over 30 on starting StR training) logged 3% more operations than their younger peers (IRR 1.03, 95% CI:1.03–1.04). Lower trainee operative rates did not increase the risk of receiving developmental ARCP outcomes (Odds Ratio 1, 95% CI:0.99-1.00). Female trainees logged more operations as assistants than males (IRR 1.08, 95% CI:1.07–1.09) but fewer as performing surgeons (IRR 0.87, 95% CI:0.86–0.88). Conclusions Disparities exist in operative numbers and supervision levels based on trainee sex and age. Total operative numbers do not appear to contribute to differential attainment at ARCP. Training strategies should include a focus on tailored trainee support to ensure equitable opportunity and independence of operating.
Barter et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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