Retrograde intrarenal surgery and percutaneous nephrolithotomy training in Turkey through the view of residents; ESRU Turkey questionnaire

Abstract

Objective: Retrograde intra renal surgery (RIRS) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) are common endoscopic surgical procedures. In our study, qualification of the Turkish residents for RIRS/PCNL, the education techniques and models are evaluated by a national based survey.Material and Methods: The techniques used in education, qualification of the education and expectations about the education were main focus. Questionnaire was sent to total of 295 residents who are registered to Turkish European Society of Residents in Urology (ESRU) database. A total of 70 (23%) urology residents answered. SurveyMonkey is used for composing and distribution of the surveys. The results were evaluated statistically. Results: Total of 70 participants involved our survey and the rates of first, second, third, fourth, fifth years of residents were 14%, 23%, 23%, 12.7%, 25% respectively. The rates of the residents from training and research hospitals and university were 46.77% and 53.23% respectively. The participants were from all over the country and there were participants from all 7 geographical regions of Turkey. The rate of residents who felt they will become capable of doing RIRS after their residency education program was 63.08% and 36.92% of the residents expressed the RIRS training they took is not enough to perform this procedure after graduation.Assistance and observation are used as the only training method for 39.2% and 49.2% of residents for RIRS and PCNL respectively. In addition, being a primary surgeon is used as a method of training by 55.38% and 50.7% of residents for RIRS and PCNL respectively. PCNL was performed by all the hospitals who were involved in the questionnaire. PCNL training course is needed by 15.38% of participants. The percentage of the residents who can’ t perform RIRS in their hospital was 15.38%. RIRS training course was needed by 15.38% of participants.Conclusion: RIRS and PCNL are common endoscopic surgical processes in Turkey. It’s been thought to be useful to make the courses more common which residents feel important for their education and to make residents eager about PCNL/RIRS education.