RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate medical students' perception, choices of future career, and competency in urology. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was distributed among 5th, 6th, and 7th(interns) year medical students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences using both hard copies and soft copies. Major outcomes were medical students' perception, future career decision, and core skills in urology. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 51.3%. A total number of 163 responses (122 were males and 41 females) were collected. Only 8% indicated that they would pursue a surgical career in urology and 42% thought that they had received a good clinical exposure to urology. Of the participants, 67.5% viewed urology as a male-dominated field. Only 17% of the respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that they were considering a future career in urology. Female students were less likely to consider a urological career (P < 0.01). About 32.5% were confident at urethral catheterization. About 66.9% felt that a workshop day to enhance urological skills and knowledge will be beneficial. Females were more confident at assessing a urological case in an acute setting (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Most of the students agreed that their urology exposure was inadequate and their confidence at urethral catheterization was low. As in many different global studies, urology is still regarded as a specialty with a male dominance. This report is consistent with the global decline in formal urological education.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the methods used to evaluate and manage urethral strictures by urologists practicing in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study based on a validated questionnaire directed to all urologists and senior residents practicing in Saudi Arabia. Categorical data reported as frequencies and percentages. A Chi-square test was used for inferential analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We received 112 responses, of which 78% were from board-certified urologists. The majority were working in government hospitals. The rate of endoscopic procedures performed exceeded open urethroplasty. Direct Vision Internal Urethrotomy was the most common procedure performed as stated by 85% of the responses. Uroflowmetry with postvoid residual was the most common investigation requested to assess strictures before and after the operation usually in adjunction with retrograde urethrogram and or cystoscopy. Most of the urologists believed in a step-wise approach in the management of strictures and that urethroplasty is indicated only after repeated trials of endoscopic management. CONCLUSION: Our results revealed a preference, and perhaps misuse, of endoscopy which might raise a concern regarding patients' prognosis with repeated endoscopic management. Most of the urologists seem to be reluctant to proceed to a definitive treatment on the time of diagnosis either due to a lack of experience or knowledge. The results showed no difference between practice in government and private hospitals.
