Patients' perception of surgical training in private hospitals.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Surgical training is traditionally a public hospital-based practice. At Epworth Private Hospital, Richmond, Victoria, there are three accredited surgical training positions and one fellowship position. We conducted a patient survey to review the patients' perspective of surgical trainees in private hospitals.

METHODS:

Over 6 weeks, 100 patients admitted under the surgical units with full-time surgical registrars were given a survey to complete in two parts on the training of surgeons in private hospitals.

RESULTS:

Seventy per cent of surveys were returned completed. Ninety per cent of respondents agreed that private hospitals should be involved in surgical training and 85.7% of patients were agreeable to having trainees involved in their operation. Only 1.4% of patients were not in agreement with surgical training in private and 8.6% of patients were neutral in their opinion.

CONCLUSION:

Our results clearly show that private hospital patients are generally favourably disposed to the presence and participation of surgical trainees in the private hospital setting.