Global neurosurgery amongst the EANS community: Where are we at?

Abstract

•Awareness of Global Neurosurgery opportunities is limited in the EANS and a minority have had previous experiences with such activities.•Most training programs and job environments don't encourage participation in Global Neurosurgery and mentors are lacking.•However, most European neurosurgeons and trainees remain interested in Global Neurosurgery and are willing to participate.•Junior trainees is the group with the highest rate of interest for Global Neurosurgery.•Barriers exist that may limit participation in Global Neurosurgery, and funding is the most relevant.

Keywords: EANS, European Association of Neurosurgical Societies; HICs, high-income countries; LMIC, low- and middle-income countries.

Fig. 1

Detailed geographical distribution of the 331 respondents.

Fig. 2

Proportion of respondents reporting (A) previous experiences with Global Neurosurgery rotations, (B) actual awareness of Global Neurosurgery opportunities for residents/neurosurgeons, (C) interest in participation in Global Neurosurgery rotations.

Fig. 3

Rate of agreement with the question (A) whether neurosurgeons and trainees in neurosurgery could have a positive local impact during rotations abroad; and (B) whether there would be interest if a structured Global Neurosurgery program were available. Panel (C) explores the rate of encouragement in participation in Global Neurosurgery initiatives by the residency programs/job environment. Each point represents one respondent.

Fig. 4

Possible barriers that could limit the participation in Global Neurosurgery initiatives (rating importance from 0 (not important at all) to 3 (very important).

Fig. 5

Possible factors that could increase the participation in Global Neurosurgery initiatives (rating importance from 0 (not important at all) to 3 (very important).