Integrated Vascular Surgery Resident Satisfaction

Abstract

Background: This is the first survey to assess and quantify the level of satisfaction among the integrated vascular surgery residents.

Methods: An anonymous 13-question survey was electronically distributed to 225 members of the Society of Vascular Surgery Resident listserv. The questions were a combination of multiple choice, free response, and 5-point Leichhardt scale. Satisfaction was defined as a score of 3 or higher on a 5-point scale.

Results: Sixty-nine of 225 responded to the survey with fairly equal distribution across the postgraduate years. Trainees reported high rates of satisfaction, >90%, with regards to faculty, educational curriculum, case selection, their peers and interactions with the general surgery residents and faculty. Among nonvascular rotations, critical care, acute care services and/or trauma and cardiothoracic were most frequently rated as satisfactory (100%, 95%, and 92%, respectively). Minimally invasive and bariatric were rated as least satisfactory at 47% and 44%.

Conclusions: Overall vascular residents are satisfied with various aspects of their respective programs. Critical care, acute care services and/or trauma, and cardiothoracic were most universally deemed beneficial to overall education, whereas other rotations have more diverse responses, suggesting very program-specific distinctions between the services.