Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33009899›Full record

ArticleCanadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie

General surgery in Canada: current scope of practice and future needs.

Travis Schroeder, Caroline Sheppard, Dawn Wilson, Caitlin Champion, Shanna DiMillo, Roy Kirkpatrick, Stephen Hiscock, Randall Friesen, Lauren Smithson, Peter Miles

Open access · diamondAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC
In one paragraph

Article in Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
1.2field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Evaluating the scope of rural general surgery in British Columbia.Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie
    Article
  6. Defining the Canadian rural general surgeon.Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie
    Review
  7. Article
  8. Observational
  9. The next frontier of acute care general surgery: fellowship training.Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.

Travis SchroederFrom the Division of General Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Schroeder); the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. (Sheppard); the Canadian Association of General Surgeons, Ottawa, Ont. (Wilson); the Division of General Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. (Champion); the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Ottawa, Ont. (DiMillo); the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, Huntsville, Ont. (Kirkpatrick); the University of British Columbia, Shuswap Lake General Hospital, Salmon Arm, B.C. (Hiscock); the Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Victoria Hospital, Prince Albert, Sask. (Friesen); the Department of Surgery, Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital, Labrador-Grenfell Health, St. Anthony, Nfld. (Smithson); and the Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Grande Prairie, Alta. (Miles).
Caroline SheppardFrom the Division of General Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Schroeder); the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. (Sheppard); the Canadian Association of General Surgeons, Ottawa, Ont. (Wilson); the Division of General Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. (Champion); the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Ottawa, Ont. (DiMillo); the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, Huntsville, Ont. (Kirkpatrick); the University of British Columbia, Shuswap Lake General Hospital, Salmon Arm, B.C. (Hiscock); the Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Victoria Hospital, Prince Albert, Sask. (Friesen); the Department of Surgery, Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital, Labrador-Grenfell Health, St. Anthony, Nfld. (Smithson); and the Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Grande Prairie, Alta. (Miles).
Dawn WilsonFrom the Division of General Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Schroeder); the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. (Sheppard); the Canadian Association of General Surgeons, Ottawa, Ont. (Wilson); the Division of General Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. (Champion); the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Ottawa, Ont. (DiMillo); the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, Huntsville, Ont. (Kirkpatrick); the University of British Columbia, Shuswap Lake General Hospital, Salmon Arm, B.C. (Hiscock); the Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Victoria Hospital, Prince Albert, Sask. (Friesen); the Department of Surgery, Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital, Labrador-Grenfell Health, St. Anthony, Nfld. (Smithson); and the Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Grande Prairie, Alta. (Miles).
Caitlin ChampionFrom the Division of General Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Schroeder); the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. (Sheppard); the Canadian Association of General Surgeons, Ottawa, Ont. (Wilson); the Division of General Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. (Champion); the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Ottawa, Ont. (DiMillo); the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, Huntsville, Ont. (Kirkpatrick); the University of British Columbia, Shuswap Lake General Hospital, Salmon Arm, B.C. (Hiscock); the Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Victoria Hospital, Prince Albert, Sask. (Friesen); the Department of Surgery, Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital, Labrador-Grenfell Health, St. Anthony, Nfld. (Smithson); and the Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Grande Prairie, Alta. (Miles).
Shanna DiMilloFrom the Division of General Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Schroeder); the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. (Sheppard); the Canadian Association of General Surgeons, Ottawa, Ont. (Wilson); the Division of General Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. (Champion); the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Ottawa, Ont. (DiMillo); the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, Huntsville, Ont. (Kirkpatrick); the University of British Columbia, Shuswap Lake General Hospital, Salmon Arm, B.C. (Hiscock); the Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Victoria Hospital, Prince Albert, Sask. (Friesen); the Department of Surgery, Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital, Labrador-Grenfell Health, St. Anthony, Nfld. (Smithson); and the Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Grande Prairie, Alta. (Miles).
Roy KirkpatrickFrom the Division of General Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Schroeder); the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. (Sheppard); the Canadian Association of General Surgeons, Ottawa, Ont. (Wilson); the Division of General Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. (Champion); the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Ottawa, Ont. (DiMillo); the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, Huntsville, Ont. (Kirkpatrick); the University of British Columbia, Shuswap Lake General Hospital, Salmon Arm, B.C. (Hiscock); the Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Victoria Hospital, Prince Albert, Sask. (Friesen); the Department of Surgery, Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital, Labrador-Grenfell Health, St. Anthony, Nfld. (Smithson); and the Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Grande Prairie, Alta. (Miles).
Stephen HiscockFrom the Division of General Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Schroeder); the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. (Sheppard); the Canadian Association of General Surgeons, Ottawa, Ont. (Wilson); the Division of General Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. (Champion); the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Ottawa, Ont. (DiMillo); the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, Huntsville, Ont. (Kirkpatrick); the University of British Columbia, Shuswap Lake General Hospital, Salmon Arm, B.C. (Hiscock); the Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Victoria Hospital, Prince Albert, Sask. (Friesen); the Department of Surgery, Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital, Labrador-Grenfell Health, St. Anthony, Nfld. (Smithson); and the Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Grande Prairie, Alta. (Miles).
Randall FriesenFrom the Division of General Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Schroeder); the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. (Sheppard); the Canadian Association of General Surgeons, Ottawa, Ont. (Wilson); the Division of General Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. (Champion); the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Ottawa, Ont. (DiMillo); the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, Huntsville, Ont. (Kirkpatrick); the University of British Columbia, Shuswap Lake General Hospital, Salmon Arm, B.C. (Hiscock); the Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Victoria Hospital, Prince Albert, Sask. (Friesen); the Department of Surgery, Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital, Labrador-Grenfell Health, St. Anthony, Nfld. (Smithson); and the Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Grande Prairie, Alta. (Miles).
Lauren SmithsonFrom the Division of General Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Schroeder); the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. (Sheppard); the Canadian Association of General Surgeons, Ottawa, Ont. (Wilson); the Division of General Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. (Champion); the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Ottawa, Ont. (DiMillo); the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, Huntsville, Ont. (Kirkpatrick); the University of British Columbia, Shuswap Lake General Hospital, Salmon Arm, B.C. (Hiscock); the Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Victoria Hospital, Prince Albert, Sask. (Friesen); the Department of Surgery, Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital, Labrador-Grenfell Health, St. Anthony, Nfld. (Smithson); and the Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Grande Prairie, Alta. (Miles).
Peter MilesFrom the Division of General Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Schroeder); the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. (Sheppard); the Canadian Association of General Surgeons, Ottawa, Ont. (Wilson); the Division of General Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. (Champion); the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Ottawa, Ont. (DiMillo); the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, Huntsville, Ont. (Kirkpatrick); the University of British Columbia, Shuswap Lake General Hospital, Salmon Arm, B.C. (Hiscock); the Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Victoria Hospital, Prince Albert, Sask. (Friesen); the Department of Surgery, Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital, Labrador-Grenfell Health, St. Anthony, Nfld. (Smithson); and the Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Grande Prairie, Alta. (Miles).
Memorial Hospital · USCanadian Association of General Surgeons · CAMcMaster University · CAUniversity of Calgary · CAUniversity of Ottawa · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe scope of practice of general surgeons in Canada is highly variable. The objective of this study was to examine the demographic characteristics of general surgeons in Canada and compare surgical procedures performed across community sizes and specialties.

methodsData from the Canadian Institute for Health Information's National Physician Database were used to analyze fee-for-service (FFS) care provided by general surgeons and other providers across Canada in 2015/16.

resultsAcross 8 Canadian provinces, 1669 general surgeons provided FFS care. The majority of the surgeons worked in communities with more than 100 000 residents (71%), were male (78%), were aged 35-54 years (56%) and were Canadian medical graduates (76%). Only 7% of general surgeons practised in rural areas and 14% in communities with between 10 000 and 50 000 residents. Rural communities were significantly more likely to have surgeons who were international medical graduates or who were older than 65 years. The surgical procedures most commonly performed by general surgeons were hernia repairs, gallbladder and biliary tree surgery, excision of skin tumours, colon and intestine resections and breast surgery. Many general surgeons performed procedures not listed in their Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada training objectives.

conclusionCanadian general surgeons provide a wide array of surgical services, and practice patterns vary by community size. Surgeons practising in rural and small communities require proficiency in skills not routinely taught in general surgery residency. Opportunities to acquire these skills should be available in training to prepare surgeons to meet the care needs of Canadians.

Indexed as

AdultCanadaClinical CompetenceFee-for-Service PlansFemaleGeneral SurgeryHealth Services Needs and DemandHumansInternship and ResidencyMaleMiddle AgedPractice Patterns, Physicians'Rural Health ServicesScope of PracticeSurgeonsSurgical Procedures, Operative

Identifiers

PMID33009899
PMCPMC7608713
OpenAlexW3091653764

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.