A chance for reform: the environmental impact of travel for general surgery residency interviews

Background: In light of the global climate emergency, it is worth reconsidering the current practice of medical students traveling to interview for residency positions. We sought to estimate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with travel for general surgery residency interviews in Canada, an...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Benjamin Fung, Isabelle Raiche, Tyler Lamb, Nada Gawad, Andrea MacNeill, Husein Moloo
Formato: article
Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: Canadian Medical Education Journal 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/f19d4458e37745b791b2bb1aefe877fd
Etiquetas: Agregar Etiqueta
Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!
id oai:doaj.org-article:f19d4458e37745b791b2bb1aefe877fd
record_format dspace
spelling oai:doaj.org-article:f19d4458e37745b791b2bb1aefe877fd2021-12-01T22:35:56ZA chance for reform: the environmental impact of travel for general surgery residency interviews10.36834/cmej.710221923-1202https://doaj.org/article/f19d4458e37745b791b2bb1aefe877fd2021-06-01T00:00:00Zhttps://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/71022https://doaj.org/toc/1923-1202 Background: In light of the global climate emergency, it is worth reconsidering the current practice of medical students traveling to interview for residency positions. We sought to estimate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with travel for general surgery residency interviews in Canada, and the potential avoided emissions if interviews were restructured. Methods: An 8-item survey was constructed to collect data on cities visited, travel modalities, and costs incurred. Applicants to the University of Ottawa General Surgery Program during the 2019/20 Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) cycle were invited to complete the survey.  Potential reductions in CO2 emissions were modeled using a regionalized interview process with either one or two cities. Results: Of a total of 56 applicants, 39 (70%) completed the survey. Applicants on average visited 10 cities with a mean total cost of $4,866 (95% CI=3,995-5,737) per applicant. Mean CO2 emissions were 1.82 (95% CI=1.50-2.14) tonnes per applicant, and the total CO2 emissions by applicants was estimated to be 101.9 (95% CI=84.0 – 119.8) tonnes. In models wherein interviews are regionalized to one or two cities, emissions would be 57.9 tonnes (43.2% reduction) and 84.2 tonnes (17.4% reduction), respectively. Overall, 74.4% of respondents were concerned about the environmental impact of travel and 46% would prefer to interview by videoconference. Conclusion: Travel for general surgery residency interviews in Canada is associated with a considerable environmental impact. These findings are likely generalizable to other residency programs. Given the global climate crisis, the CaRMS application process must consider alternative structures. Benjamin FungIsabelle RaicheTyler LambNada GawadAndrea MacNeillHusein MolooCanadian Medical Education JournalarticleEducation (General)L7-991Medicine (General)R5-920ENCanadian Medical Education Journal, Vol 12, Iss 3 (2021)
institution DOAJ
collection DOAJ
language EN
topic Education (General)
L7-991
Medicine (General)
R5-920
spellingShingle Education (General)
L7-991
Medicine (General)
R5-920
Benjamin Fung
Isabelle Raiche
Tyler Lamb
Nada Gawad
Andrea MacNeill
Husein Moloo
A chance for reform: the environmental impact of travel for general surgery residency interviews
description Background: In light of the global climate emergency, it is worth reconsidering the current practice of medical students traveling to interview for residency positions. We sought to estimate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with travel for general surgery residency interviews in Canada, and the potential avoided emissions if interviews were restructured. Methods: An 8-item survey was constructed to collect data on cities visited, travel modalities, and costs incurred. Applicants to the University of Ottawa General Surgery Program during the 2019/20 Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) cycle were invited to complete the survey.  Potential reductions in CO2 emissions were modeled using a regionalized interview process with either one or two cities. Results: Of a total of 56 applicants, 39 (70%) completed the survey. Applicants on average visited 10 cities with a mean total cost of $4,866 (95% CI=3,995-5,737) per applicant. Mean CO2 emissions were 1.82 (95% CI=1.50-2.14) tonnes per applicant, and the total CO2 emissions by applicants was estimated to be 101.9 (95% CI=84.0 – 119.8) tonnes. In models wherein interviews are regionalized to one or two cities, emissions would be 57.9 tonnes (43.2% reduction) and 84.2 tonnes (17.4% reduction), respectively. Overall, 74.4% of respondents were concerned about the environmental impact of travel and 46% would prefer to interview by videoconference. Conclusion: Travel for general surgery residency interviews in Canada is associated with a considerable environmental impact. These findings are likely generalizable to other residency programs. Given the global climate crisis, the CaRMS application process must consider alternative structures.
format article
author Benjamin Fung
Isabelle Raiche
Tyler Lamb
Nada Gawad
Andrea MacNeill
Husein Moloo
author_facet Benjamin Fung
Isabelle Raiche
Tyler Lamb
Nada Gawad
Andrea MacNeill
Husein Moloo
author_sort Benjamin Fung
title A chance for reform: the environmental impact of travel for general surgery residency interviews
title_short A chance for reform: the environmental impact of travel for general surgery residency interviews
title_full A chance for reform: the environmental impact of travel for general surgery residency interviews
title_fullStr A chance for reform: the environmental impact of travel for general surgery residency interviews
title_full_unstemmed A chance for reform: the environmental impact of travel for general surgery residency interviews
title_sort chance for reform: the environmental impact of travel for general surgery residency interviews
publisher Canadian Medical Education Journal
publishDate 2021
url https://doaj.org/article/f19d4458e37745b791b2bb1aefe877fd
work_keys_str_mv AT benjaminfung achanceforreformtheenvironmentalimpactoftravelforgeneralsurgeryresidencyinterviews
AT isabelleraiche achanceforreformtheenvironmentalimpactoftravelforgeneralsurgeryresidencyinterviews
AT tylerlamb achanceforreformtheenvironmentalimpactoftravelforgeneralsurgeryresidencyinterviews
AT nadagawad achanceforreformtheenvironmentalimpactoftravelforgeneralsurgeryresidencyinterviews
AT andreamacneill achanceforreformtheenvironmentalimpactoftravelforgeneralsurgeryresidencyinterviews
AT huseinmoloo achanceforreformtheenvironmentalimpactoftravelforgeneralsurgeryresidencyinterviews
AT benjaminfung chanceforreformtheenvironmentalimpactoftravelforgeneralsurgeryresidencyinterviews
AT isabelleraiche chanceforreformtheenvironmentalimpactoftravelforgeneralsurgeryresidencyinterviews
AT tylerlamb chanceforreformtheenvironmentalimpactoftravelforgeneralsurgeryresidencyinterviews
AT nadagawad chanceforreformtheenvironmentalimpactoftravelforgeneralsurgeryresidencyinterviews
AT andreamacneill chanceforreformtheenvironmentalimpactoftravelforgeneralsurgeryresidencyinterviews
AT huseinmoloo chanceforreformtheenvironmentalimpactoftravelforgeneralsurgeryresidencyinterviews
_version_ 1718404136788033536