As part of the Endourological Society's initiative to continuously enhance the field of endourology, the second annual census was circulated after the World Congress of Endourology and Uro-Technology 2022 (WCET22).
An anonymous survey was created using Qualtrics XM and was disseminated via email to all Endourological Society (ES) members (n=1,502) between October 4th, 2022, and January 26th, 2023. A total of 46 questions were included in the survey and covered different aspects including demographics, practice patterns, satisfaction, impact of COVID, WCET22 attendance, and future opportunities.
A total of 404 (26.9%) ES members (91.8% male and 8.2% female), representing 63 different countries participated in the survey. Fellowship-trained endourologists constituted 58.9% of respondents, and the most common practice setting was academic (55.2%). The most common practice scope was complex retrograde endoscopy (83.4%), followed by percutaneous nephrolithotomy (79.5%) and medical management of urolithiasis (72.5%). Work schedules were variable with 51.1% working 40-60 hours/week and 35.3% working >60 hours/week. More than 80% were satisfied with their practice; however, 42.4% indicated that COVID made satisfaction worse. Of the participants, 49.5% were satisfied with their compensation, and 7.3% plan to retire within the next 5 years. When asked about the future of endourology, 92.9% had a positive outlook. Of the respondents, only 36.8% attended WCET22, with the most chosen reason for attendance being an interest in learning new research and technology. For lack of attendance, cost of travel and lodging was reported as a determining factor by 45.4%.
These survey results report important trends within the field of endourology and demonstrate the robust outlook of ES members for the future. By demonstrating important practice patterns and member needs, this information can be used to improve the responsiveness of its members and to continually strengthen the ES.
Journal of endourology. 2024 Sep 16 [Epub ahead of print]
Ala'a Farkouh, Malone R Locke, D Duane Baldwin, Mordechai Duvdevani, Senthil Nathan, Charles D Scales, Necole M Streeper, Timothy D Averch
Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, United States; ., University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 6311 Garners Ferry Rd, Columbia, South Carolina, United States, 29209-1445; ., Loma Linda University Medical Center, Urology, 11234 Anderson Street, Room A560, Loma Linda, California, United States, 92354; ., Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem, Urology, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel, 91120; ., University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Department of Urology , London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; ., Duke University Hospital, Division of Urology, 40 Medicine Circle, Suite 1570, Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27710., Penn State Health Milton S Hershey Medical Center, Department of Urology, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States; ., Prisma Health Midlands, Dept. of Surgery; Division of Urology, Columbia, South Carolina, United States; .