A Scoping Review of Trainees With Motor and Sensory Disabilities in Surgical Specialties: Barriers, Representation, and Inclusive Solutions.

OBJECTIVE

To highlight the experiences of trainees with disabilities in surgical and procedural specialties to encourage the development of inclusive training opportunities within surgical specialties.

DESIGN

PRISMA guidelines were used to search PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases in October 2024. Studies that focused on trainees with motor or sensory disabilities (MSD) in medical school or graduate medical training were included. Studies not specifying learners' experience navigating training were excluded. Data extraction included trainee level, specialty, type of disability, and solutions implemented.

SETTING

This review includes research conducted in academic settings.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants in the included studies were medical students, residents, and fellows in various specialties.

RESULTS

Of 621 initial studies, 5 met inclusion criteria. Total number of trainees included 4 medical students, and 1 resident. Three (66.7%) learners had spinal cord injuries, one (16.7%) had Osteogenesis Imperfecta, and one (16.7%) had severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Three studies (50%) described medical students' and a resident's experience in surgical fields of OBGYN and Surgery clerkship, and Neurosurgery residency respectively. One study (16.7%) described a student's experience in Emergency Medicine, and the final study (16.7%) described a student's experience navigating medical school and all clerkships. All 4 medical students passed their clerkships, with honors awarded for those in Emergency Medicine and Surgery. The resident in Neurosurgery successfully completed the program.

CONCLUSION

Trainees with disabilities in surgical fields remain underrepresented. This review highlights the capacity for resilience among trainees in surgical and procedural fields, showing that students with disabilities can excel in surgical training. These findings emphasize the need for surgical programs to adopt practices that accommodate diverse needs among trainees and foster a more accessible and supportive learning environment for all aspiring surgeons.