Abstract
Introduction: Pediatric general surgeons volunteering internationally often work independently, some without prior assessment of the needs of those they wish to assist. Consequently, care may be inefficient, duplicated, or misdirected. A study was performed to assess whether a network for pediatric surgery volunteer work exists. Methods: A search of the Internet was performed to determine whether a pediatric surgery network exists. Worldwide pediatric surgery societies were identified and grouped by country according to income. Web sites for medical volunteer organizations were examined for links to a network of pediatric surgery volunteer work. Results: A search of the Internet revealed no pediatric surgery volunteer network. Ninety-seven pediatric surgery societies were identified. Fifty-one of the organizations were identified as residing in low- and middle-income countries. Searching 50 Web sites for these societies revealed no existing pediatric surgery network. Of 45 Web sites for volunteer medical work, 1 surgery networking Web site was identified. Only 4 pediatric general surgery international volunteer opportunities were cited on that Web site. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that no pediatric surgery volunteer network exists. By identifying pediatric surgery organizations in low- and middle-income countries, it is speculated that one might link the surgeons in these regions with those wishing to volunteer their services.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 303-309 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of pediatric surgery |
Volume | 45 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2010 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Global
- International
- Network
- Pediatric surgery
- Volunteerism
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health