Surgical training strategies for physicians practicing in an isolated environment: an example from Antarctica. International survey of 13 countries with active winter stations
ABSTRACTFor 60 years, human presence in Antarctica has required particularly demanding medical skills. Nevertheless, the preparation of physicians working in this extreme environment remains unknown and deserves clarification. This study aimed to summarise data on the surgical training given to phys...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2023.2236761 |
| _version_ | 1797385603200843776 |
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| author | Manon Lecordier Cécile Tissot Laurent Bonnardot Martin Hitier |
| author_facet | Manon Lecordier Cécile Tissot Laurent Bonnardot Martin Hitier |
| author_sort | Manon Lecordier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTFor 60 years, human presence in Antarctica has required particularly demanding medical skills. Nevertheless, the preparation of physicians working in this extreme environment remains unknown and deserves clarification. This study aimed to summarise data on the surgical training given to physicians by different countries. In April 2020, we conducted a questionnaire-based study of 14 countries wintering in Antarctica. Responses were descriptively analysed. Regarding the profiles of physicians recruited by the wintering countries, 30% to 55% were non-surgeon doctors compared with 45% to 70% for surgeons depending on the year. Of the 13 countries answering the questionnaire, nine organised practical surgical training and six used theoretical material. All countries reported practical training for dental surgery, while only five countries provided training in four other surgical specialities (orthopaedic, digestive, thoracic, and ear, throat, and nose). All 13 countries reported using a telemedicine system. These results revealed heterogeneous training strategies among the recruited physicians, reflecting the difficulties of practice on this extreme continent. Future work may assess the effectiveness of each strategy. A better understanding of surgical epidemiology and a detailed referencing of the equipment available at the bases would help better define the contours of surgical care in Antarctica. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:56:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4684536a7e54f81abc1f828ce35c37b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2242-3982 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:56:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4684536a7e54f81abc1f828ce35c37b2023-12-19T21:44:11ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Circumpolar Health2242-39822023-12-0182110.1080/22423982.2023.2236761Surgical training strategies for physicians practicing in an isolated environment: an example from Antarctica. International survey of 13 countries with active winter stationsManon Lecordier0Cécile Tissot1Laurent Bonnardot2Martin Hitier3Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UBO, Brest, FranceFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UBO, Brest, FranceDepartment of Medical Ethics and Legal Medicine, Paris Descartes University, Paris, EA, FranceDepartment of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Normandie Univ, Caen, FranceABSTRACTFor 60 years, human presence in Antarctica has required particularly demanding medical skills. Nevertheless, the preparation of physicians working in this extreme environment remains unknown and deserves clarification. This study aimed to summarise data on the surgical training given to physicians by different countries. In April 2020, we conducted a questionnaire-based study of 14 countries wintering in Antarctica. Responses were descriptively analysed. Regarding the profiles of physicians recruited by the wintering countries, 30% to 55% were non-surgeon doctors compared with 45% to 70% for surgeons depending on the year. Of the 13 countries answering the questionnaire, nine organised practical surgical training and six used theoretical material. All countries reported practical training for dental surgery, while only five countries provided training in four other surgical specialities (orthopaedic, digestive, thoracic, and ear, throat, and nose). All 13 countries reported using a telemedicine system. These results revealed heterogeneous training strategies among the recruited physicians, reflecting the difficulties of practice on this extreme continent. Future work may assess the effectiveness of each strategy. A better understanding of surgical epidemiology and a detailed referencing of the equipment available at the bases would help better define the contours of surgical care in Antarctica.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2023.2236761Surgical educationwilderness medicinepolar healthremote healthcareAntarctica |
| spellingShingle | Manon Lecordier Cécile Tissot Laurent Bonnardot Martin Hitier Surgical training strategies for physicians practicing in an isolated environment: an example from Antarctica. International survey of 13 countries with active winter stations International Journal of Circumpolar Health Surgical education wilderness medicine polar health remote healthcare Antarctica |
| title | Surgical training strategies for physicians practicing in an isolated environment: an example from Antarctica. International survey of 13 countries with active winter stations |
| title_full | Surgical training strategies for physicians practicing in an isolated environment: an example from Antarctica. International survey of 13 countries with active winter stations |
| title_fullStr | Surgical training strategies for physicians practicing in an isolated environment: an example from Antarctica. International survey of 13 countries with active winter stations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Surgical training strategies for physicians practicing in an isolated environment: an example from Antarctica. International survey of 13 countries with active winter stations |
| title_short | Surgical training strategies for physicians practicing in an isolated environment: an example from Antarctica. International survey of 13 countries with active winter stations |
| title_sort | surgical training strategies for physicians practicing in an isolated environment an example from antarctica international survey of 13 countries with active winter stations |
| topic | Surgical education wilderness medicine polar health remote healthcare Antarctica |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2023.2236761 |
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