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...
Guardado en:
Autores principales: | , , , , , |
---|---|
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 |