Opinions, Perceptions, & Thoughts of British Resident Doctors on Orthopaedics

Orthopaedic surgery is one of the largest surgical specialties in the UK, delivering high-volume, high-impact care across trauma and elective pathways. Despite this, the specialty continues to face challenges in recruitment, diversity, inclusivity and perceptions of workload and culture. International literature suggests that impressions formed during undergraduate and early postgraduate training strongly influence specialty choice; however, contemporary UK-specific data on how resident doctors view orthopaedics remain limited. The ORTHO BRO Study is a cross-sectional, anonymous online survey designed to capture UK trainees' perceptions of orthopaedics, compare views between those with and without prior orthopaedic rotations, and explore spontaneous associations. Findings will inform training improvement, inclusivity initiatives, and recruitment strategies. The study targets UK foundation doctors (F1/F2), core trainees (CT1/CT2), and trust-grade/non-training senior house officers (SHOs) across multiple trusts/foundation schools.

NCT Number	NCT07281560
Lead Sponsor	University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust
Conditions	Perceptions of Orthopaedic Surgery Among UK Resident Doctors
Enrollment	300 participants
Start Date	2026-01-15
Primary Completion	2026-04-14 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-07-14 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2025-12-15