Workload and surgical training of residents in France: Results of a national inquiry

SummaryObjectiveDescribe the workload of French residents in surgery presently in training and analyze the factors influencing the quality of this training.MethodsMail questionnaire sent between June and September 2009 to French surgical residents. Items analyzed included demographics, hospital working time per week, post-call time off, planning of a fellowship after internship and academic endeavors. Received practical and theoretical instruction/training were evaluated.ResultsMean hospital working time was 67 hours per week. Factors influencing working time were gender, geographical localization, and post-call off-duty. Post-call off-duty was observed by 35% of the residents. Gender and planned fellowship after internship significantly influenced this rate. The mean grade given to practical instruction was more than 6/10 for all surgical specialties. The theoretical instruction mean grade was equal or lower than the practical education mean grade for all surgical specialties.ConclusionThis study confirmed the high workload of French residents in surgery. Restricted work hours regulations are largely disregarded.