H. Zahid7, D.L. Jacobson6, C.B. Ching2, K.A. Swords3, M.S. Irion1, K.M. Meier5, C. DeVries6,7 5Children’s Mercy Hospital- University Of Missouri Kansas City, Dept. Of Surgery, Division Of Urology, Kansas City, MO, USA 6University Of Utah, Division Of Urology, Salt Lake City, UT, USA 7University Of Utah, Center For Global Surgery, Salt Lake City, UT, USA 1University Of Utah, Clinical & Translational Science Inst., Salt Lake City, UT, USA 2Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA 3University Of California – San Diego, Pediatric Urology, San Diego, CA, USA 4Biomedical Informatics Core (BMIC)-, Salt Lake City, UTAH, USA
Introduction: There is an increasing gap between unmet pediatric urological needs and the skill sets available in the high-income countries and the low-income countries. This is a significant issue in low-income countries especially in Africa where birth rates are still high and access to specialized medical expertise is often limited. It is important to understand the skills, training expertise, and capacity of pediatric urologists from higher-income countries to develop effective educational programs and initiatives that can bridge this gap.
The Societies for Pediatric Urology (SPU) Global Task Force, in collaboration with the University of Utah Center for Global Surgery, utilized the REDCap application to collect data from pediatric urologists in high-income countries associated with the SPU. By using this comprehensive collection tool, we aim to identify the specific competencies and training practices that can serve as the foundation to developing educational programs and enhancement initiatives, ultimately leading to improvements in pediatric urology care and patient outcomes in resource-limited areas.
Methods: Using advanced functionality, three REDCap projects were configured to gather detailed information on the sponsoring organizations and providers’ demographics, current work location, and interest of pediatric urologists in global pediatric urology initiatives. We shared the public survey link on the SPU website and distributed the link to those who had previously expressed interest. We generated reports and created a live dashboard based on the participants' responses.
Results: We received responses from a total of 102 participants. 82% of these participants were pediatric urologists while 8.8% were in pediatric surgery. Nearly 45% of these participants had been involved with surgical workshops in the past. A total of 25 organizations were identified that are involved in observership and training programs with low-and middle-income countries. On average, 24% of the respondents had undertaken trips as visiting professors, and almost 20% had been involved in a mentorship program.
Conclusion: REDCap serves as an invaluable tool for collecting comprehensive data on the current landscape of pediatric urologists’ involvement in global health initiatives. The data collected offers crucial insights into the expertise and training of high-income country urologists, thereby identifying potential targets for developing tailored education and support programs. By systematically capturing this information, REDCap facilitates the development of initiatives and training programs that address the specific needs of resource-limited regions. Consolidating pediatric urology resources through REDCap is the significant step towards bridging the expertise gap in pediatric urology and improving patient outcomes in underserved areas.