Targeted needs assessment of neurosurgical training in Ukraine: a pilot survey study

Ukraine is a country of about 38 million people that has experienced rapid growth in neurosurgery in recent years. It has been the site of formal international collaborations centered on neurosurgical capacity building, such as the Co-Pilot Project. In an effort to further improve contributions in a targeted manner, we designed a survey instrument to comprehensively evaluate the perspectives, attitudes, and needs of Ukrainian neurosurgeons relating to education and training as a pilot study. An original, 110-item survey instrument was designed and distributed in Ukrainian to a convenience sample of neurosurgeons practicing in the country. Questions were related to demographics, residency experience, current practices, training and equipment needs, and attitudes toward potential opportunities. A total of 24 individuals (mean age of 34.8 ± 6.2 years; 92% male) with various training backgrounds participated in the survey. During residency, 18 (75%) reported positive or very positive relationships with their mentors, despite 24 (100%) reporting gaps in training and only nine (38%) being satisfied with residency training. Furthermore, nine (38%) never received formal critiques of training progress. The least experience was recorded in functional followed by pediatric neurosurgery. In current practice, 13 (54%) often encounter cases that they do not feel prepared to deal with. Only seven (29%) have received formal or informal training in clinical research. Twenty-four (100%) are interested in receiving additional training in other countries. The preliminary findings of this pilot study reveal opportunities for international collaborative efforts in Ukraine to strengthen neurosurgical education and training. Local neurosurgeons are not only cognisant of areas for improvement but also motivated to expand their skills to improve patient care.