Attrition in surgery: A scoping review of contributing factors and demographic disparities.

Authors

Jocelynne T Dorotan, Kristen M HoSang, Jacob Brinzenhoff, Sarah Bauman, Lindsay E Kuo

Published in

American journal of surgery. Volume 261. Pages 117199. Aug 19, 2026. Epub Aug 19, 2026.

Abstract

Attrition threatens the sustainability of the surgical workforce, with limited data existing regarding practicing surgeons. This scoping review aims to map the existing literature on attrition in this cohort and identify associated factors to inform retention efforts.
This scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review (PRIMSA-ScR) guidelines. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, and Web of Science were searched for English-language studies since 2000 examining attrition among practicing surgeons in the United States. Studies of surgical trainees, burnout alone, commentaries, and non-U.S. populations were excluded.
Of 5737 abstracts screened, four studies met inclusion criteria. Reported attrition varied by specialty and design. Gender differences were observed across all studies, with mixed findings. Two studies reported lower attrition among racial and ethnic minority surgeons. Associations with practice setting and other factors were inconsistent.
Evidence on attrition among practicing surgeons is sparse. Further investigation is needed to clarify drivers of attrition.

PMID:
42648025
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 27 Aug 2026.

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