Leadership development for orthopaedic trauma surgeons in Latin America: opportunities for and barriers to skill acquisition

Abstract

Introduction: There is growing interest in leadership courses for physicians. Few opportunities are available in global regions with limited resources. This study describes orthopaedic trauma surgeons' desired leadership skill acquisition, opportunities, and barriers to course participation in Latin America.Methods: Latin American orthopaedic trauma surgeons from the Asociación de Cirujanos Traumatólogos de las Americas (ACTUAR) network were surveyed. This survey solicited and gauged the surgeons' level of interest in leadership topics and their relative importance utilizing a 5-point Likert-scale. Additionally, comparisons were calculated between middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs) to ascertain if needs were different between groups. The survey included demographic information, nationality, level of training, years in practice, leadership position, needs assessment, and perceived barriers for leadership educational opportunities.Results: One hundred forty-four orthopaedic surgeons completed the survey, representing 18 countries across Latin America; 15 MICs and 3 HICs. Participants had more than 20 years in practice (49%) and held leadership positions (81%) in hospital settings (62%), national orthopaedic societies (45%), and/or clinical settings (40%). Sixty-three percent had never attended a leadership course due to lack of opportunities/invitations (69%), difficulty missing work (24%), and costs (21%). Ninety-seven percent expressed interest in attending a leadership course. No difference in needs was determined between respondents from MICs and HICs. Professional Ethics, Crisis Management/Organizational Change Management, and High Performing Team-Building were identified as the most important leadership topics. Conclusion:Orthopaedic surgeons in Latin America demonstrate an interest in acquiring additional leadership skills but have few opportunities. Identifying interests, knowledge gaps, and core competencies can guide the development of such opportunities.

Leadership development training for orthopaedic trauma surgeons: an international survey

“… 33 Moreover, 144 orthopaedic trauma surgeons in Latin America identified professional ethics, crisis management/organizational change management, and high performing team building as the most important topics for leadership development. 34 Finally, a meta-analysis concluded that the ability to initiate structure within a team was the most influential leadership skill for surgeons. 35 The major leadership themes identified in this study were consistent with those previously recognized in other reports.…”

Leadership Development Training for Brazilian Orthopedic Surgeons

“…The survey was completed by 144 orthopedic surgeons from 18 Latin American countries. 10 The results characterized region-specific perspectives, desired competencies, and existing barriers to leadership development participation and formed the basis for a novel Leadership Development Program (LDP) curriculum for Latin American orthopedic trauma surgeons. 10 …”

“…9 While the assessment and training of these non-technical skills have become more accessible in high-income countries (HICs), there remains a need for further development and incorporation of these tools into the medical education throughout low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), 1 particularly throughout Latin America. 10 Given the direct association between national income and spending, a significant portion of the care delivered in LMICs is often greatly hindered by the lack of requisite healthcare funding. The burden of disease is greater, advanced technology is limited, the supply of human and material resources is inconsistent, and the healthcare systems remain less integrated than in many HICs.…”

“…The survey was completed by 144 orthopedic surgeons from 18 Latin American countries. 10 The results characterized region-specific perspectives, desired competencies, and existing barriers to leadership development participation and formed the basis for a novel Leadership Development Program (LDP) curriculum for Latin American orthopedic trauma surgeons. 10 Through this collaborative effort, an inaugural LDP was actualized in 2019 in Hermosillo, Mexico; followed by Havana, Cuba; Veracruz, Mexico; and most recently, Sao Paulo, Brazil.…”

“…10 The results characterized region-specific perspectives, desired competencies, and existing barriers to leadership development participation and formed the basis for a novel Leadership Development Program (LDP) curriculum for Latin American orthopedic trauma surgeons. 10 Through this collaborative effort, an inaugural LDP was actualized in 2019 in Hermosillo, Mexico; followed by Havana, Cuba; Veracruz, Mexico; and most recently, Sao Paulo, Brazil. This paper will report on the experience and impressions of the Brazilian orthopedic trauma surgeons attending the LDP hosted by the Sociedade Brasileira do Trauma Ortopédico (SBTO) in Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 4, 2022.…”