Abstract

Aim: In this study, we aimed to determine the opinions of the pediatric surgeons working in Turkey on US training, and to spark a debate regarding the addition of US training to the pediatric surgery specialty curriculum.

Material and Method: Questions concerning the opinions of the pediatric surgeons in Turkey on US training were prepared as a questionnaire through Google forum. The responses of 49 surgeons who answered the questionnaire were analyzed.

Results: Of the pediatric surgeons participating in the questionnaire, 33% (n=16) were working in a university hospital, 29% (n=14) in a training and research hospital, 23% (n=11) in a state hospital, and 15% (n=7) in a private hospital. For the question “Do you perform US by yourself?”, 79.6% (n=39) of the surgeons answered ‘no’ and 20.4% of them answered ‘yes’. Of the participants who do not perform US, 53.8% (n=21) stated that they have felt the lack of being unable to perform US. For the question “Do you think it would be useful to use US in the routine practice of pediatric surgeons?”, 77.1% (n=37) of the surgeons answered ‘yes’, and 22.9% (n=11) of them answered ‘no’. For the question “Do you think it is right to add the USG training to the pediatric surgery specialty education?”, 65.3% (n=32) of the surgeons selected the option ‘yes’, and 34.7% (n=17) selected the option ‘no’.

Conclusion: Addition of US training in pediatric surgery education program on a legal basis may provide gaining US skills, and make a valuable contribution to the training and horizon of next generation pediatric surgeons.