Abstract
Background:
There exists an established need for adequate early and equitable surgical exposure during medical school, potentially further constrained by the post-COVID virtualisation of teaching and placements. The Perspectives on Research and Surgical Opportunities for UK Medical Students (PRiSM) study aimed to evaluate current access to surgical experience, skills teaching, and research opportunities, as well as impact on career aspirations.
Methods:
PRiSM was a national, cross-sectional survey of UK medical students conducted between May and August 2025, following a collaborator-led distribution model. A 13-item questionnaire explored student perspectives on surgical opportunities across three domains: observational experience, surgical skills, and research access. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U and Chi-squared tests. Free-text responses underwent thematic analysis.
Results:
In total, 462 responses were received from 22 UK medical schools, including 239 students who had completed at least their penultimate year. Of these, 18.0 % had never received formal surgical skills teaching, with almost a quarter (24.0 %) of all students having never scrubbed into theatre. Median satisfaction with regards to surgical skills and research was low (2/10 for both). Thematic analysis revealed a need for more consistent hands-on surgical teaching within curricula, as well as more accessible networking and research opportunities. Insufficient exposure and support appeared to negatively impact career decision-making. No regional differences were identified with respect to any outcome.
Conclusion:
PRiSM provides novel post-COVID national insight into surgical education inequities, demonstrating that structured, curriculum-integrated, and mentored surgical experiences are key to fostering engagement, confidence, and informed career decisions.
There exists an established need for adequate early and equitable surgical exposure during medical school, potentially further constrained by the post-COVID virtualisation of teaching and placements. The Perspectives on Research and Surgical Opportunities for UK Medical Students (PRiSM) study aimed to evaluate current access to surgical experience, skills teaching, and research opportunities, as well as impact on career aspirations.
Methods:
PRiSM was a national, cross-sectional survey of UK medical students conducted between May and August 2025, following a collaborator-led distribution model. A 13-item questionnaire explored student perspectives on surgical opportunities across three domains: observational experience, surgical skills, and research access. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U and Chi-squared tests. Free-text responses underwent thematic analysis.
Results:
In total, 462 responses were received from 22 UK medical schools, including 239 students who had completed at least their penultimate year. Of these, 18.0 % had never received formal surgical skills teaching, with almost a quarter (24.0 %) of all students having never scrubbed into theatre. Median satisfaction with regards to surgical skills and research was low (2/10 for both). Thematic analysis revealed a need for more consistent hands-on surgical teaching within curricula, as well as more accessible networking and research opportunities. Insufficient exposure and support appeared to negatively impact career decision-making. No regional differences were identified with respect to any outcome.
Conclusion:
PRiSM provides novel post-COVID national insight into surgical education inequities, demonstrating that structured, curriculum-integrated, and mentored surgical experiences are key to fostering engagement, confidence, and informed career decisions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | The Surgeon |
| Early online date | 22 Dec 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 22 Dec 2025 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2025 Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (Scottish charity number SC005317) and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.