How to train plastic surgeons of the future.

[INTRODUCTION] Plastic surgery is a competitive and over-subscribed career choice despite minimal medical school exposure. We quantify factors influencing career interest in plastic surgery, speciality appeal and workforce planning. These findings optimise and refine evidence-based plastic surgery training and postgraduate selection criteria.

[METHODS] Medical students from two national plastic surgery courses complete a post-course questionnaire. Data categories included past experience and career interest in plastic surgery, sources of exposure, motivational factors, and sub-speciality interest. Data were recorded on modified Likert scales, with linear regression and t-test analyses performed.

[RESULTS] 175 students completed the questionnaire (81% response). Duration of medical student exposure to plastic surgery was significantly associated with career interest (Linear coefficient 0.12, 95% CI 0.08-0.17, P < 0.0001; r(2) = 0.15). 75 h experience is a significant cut-off to categorise students. Mean (95% CI) career interest is 31 percentage points higher in students with >75 h experience (89.2%, 83.2-95.2) compared to students with ≤75 h experience (58.1%, 52.9-63.3) (P < 0.0001). Influential sources included: (1) Operating Room (2) Consultant/Attending interaction (3) Resident interaction. Motivational factors towards a career in plastic surgery included operative satisfaction (91%), improving patient quality of life (89%), and reconstructive surgery (88%). Sub-speciality interests included: (1) Hand and Upper Limb (28%); (2) Cleft Lip and Palate (26%); (3) Burns (15%).

[CONCLUSION] This study identified influential and motivational factors upon a career in plastic surgery. Medical student exposure can be tailored to maximise positive educational exposure to optimise evidence-based plastic surgery training and workforce planning.