• Andrea Cocci, Giulio Patruno, Giorgio Gandaglia, Michele Rizzo, Francesco Esperto, Daniele Parnanzini, Amelia Pietropaolo, Emanuele Principi, Michele Talso, Ramona Baldesi, Antonino Battaglia, Ervin Shehu, Francesca Carrobbio, Alfio Corsaro, Roberto La Rocca, Michele Marchioni, Lorenzo Bianchi, Eugenio Miglioranza, Guglielmo Mantica, Eugenio Martorana, Leonardo Misuraca, Dario Fontana, Saverio Forte, Giancarlo Napoli, Giorgio Ivan Russo, and Senato degli Specializzandi Study Group.
• Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
• Eur Urol Focus. 2018 Mar 1; 4 (2): 280-287.

BackgroundNumerous surveys have been performed to determine the competence and the confidence of residents. However, there is no data available on the condition of Italian residents in urology.ObjectiveTo investigate the status of training among Italian residents in urology regarding scientific activity and surgical exposure.Design, Setting, And ParticipantsA web-based survey that included 445 residents from all of the 25 Italian Residency Programmes was conducted between September 2015 and November 2015.Outcome Measurements And Statistical AnalysisThe main outcomes were represented by scientific activity, involvement in surgical procedures, and overall satisfaction.Results And LimitationsIn total, 324 out of 445 (72.8%) residents completed the survey. Overall, 104 (32%) residents had not published any scientific manuscripts, 148 (46%) published ≤5, 38 (12%) ≤10, 26 (8%) ≤15, four (1%) ≤20, and four (1%) >20 manuscripts, respectively. We did not observe any differences when residents were stratified by sex (p=0.5). Stent positioning (45.7%), extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (30.9%), transurethral resection of bladder tumor (33.0%), hydrocelectomy (24.7%), varicocelectomy (17%), ureterolithotripsy (14.5%), and orchiectomy (12.3%) were the surgical procedures more frequently performed by residents. Overall, 272 residents (84%) expressed a good satisfaction for urology specialty, while 178 (54.9%) expressed a good satisfaction for their own residency programme. We observed a statistically decreased trend for good satisfaction for urology specialty according to the postgraduate year (p=0.02).ConclusionsItalian Urology Residency Programmes feature some heavy limitations regarding scientific activity and surgical exposure. Nonetheless, satisfaction rate for urology specialty remains high. Further improvements in Residency Programmes should be made in order to align our schools to others that are actually more challenging.Patient SummaryIn this web-based survey, Italian residents in urology showed limited scientific productivity and low involvement in surgical procedures. Satisfaction for urology specialty remains high, demonstrating continuous interest in this field of study from residents.Copyright © 2016 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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