3.1.1. Location, aim, and population
The results from a total of 20 articles were analysed in this review. Of
these, 12 papers were from the US, 5 from the UK, and 1 from Sudan,
Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia each. The population of these studies
consisted of medical students, foundation doctors, core surgical
trainees, interns, and general surgery residents. Any papers that
included only CT trainees, professors or consultants were excluded from
this review. These papers discussed the level of interest, perceptions
on a career in CT surgery, factors that impacted decision making and
interventions used in medical education such as simulation, surgical
anatomy lessons, scholarship awards, and mentorship to expose students
and trainees to CT surgery at an earlier stage. A couple of studies also
discussed the barriers in which female medical students may need to
overcome and the factors that motivate their career choice in CT. The
length of training, the presence of female role-models in CT surgery,
and lifestyle were key factors involved in decision-making.