A career in neurosurgery: perceptions and the impact of a national SBNS/NANSIG neurosurgery careers day

• Published in: British journal of neurosurgery 2022-09, Vol.36 (5), p.620-626
• Main Authors: Solomou, Georgios, Venkatesh, Ashwin, Patel, Waqqas, Chari, Aswin, Mohan, Midhun, Bandyopadhyay, Soham, Gillespie, Conor S., Mendoza, Nigel, Watts, Colin, Jenkins, Alistair
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Careers; conference; medical students; Neurosurgery; neurosurgical training
• ISSN: 0268-8697; 1360-046X
• DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2022.2076807

Entrance to neurosurgical training is highly competitive. Without proper advice, information and opportunities, talented individuals may be dissuaded from applying. The Neurology and Neurosurgery Interest Group (NANSIG) organises a Careers Day in Neurosurgery every year. Our objective was to assess the overall utility of a neurosurgery careers day and the perceived factors that attract and detract from the specialty, from attendees of the ninth annual neurosurgery careers day. Eighteen-item pre-conference and 19-item post-conference questionnaires were disseminated electronically to conference attendees. Questions aimed to capture: (i) baseline demographics; (ii) previous experience and exposure in neurosurgery; (iii) interest in neurosurgery; (iv) understanding training and a career in neurosurgery; (v) perceived factors of attraction and dissuasion of neurosurgery; and (vi) perceived value, quality and educational purpose of the conference. In total, 77 delegates attended the careers day. Most did not have a formal neurosurgical rotation during medical school (24.7%, n = 19), but almost half had gained neurosurgical experience and presented research work. The careers day increased knowledge of the neurosurgical application process (median Likert score 3/5 to 4/5, p