Challenges in residency recruitment and neurosurgical workforce trends: insights from the centralized allocation system in Türkiye

Abstract

There is growing global concern that the shortage of qualified neurosurgeons may become increasingly pronounced over time. However, studies analyzing the proportion of medical graduates applying for neurosurgical residency programs relative to overall specialty program demand and trends over time are particularly scarce for low- and middle-income countries, including Türkiye. Methods In this cross-sectional research conducted in Türkiye, data from 10 Medical Specialty Training Entrance Examinations between 2019 and 2023 were retrieved from the National Selection and Placement Center database. Neurosurgery residency filling rates were compared with both the overall rates for all specialties and those of selected surgical specialties. The repeated measures ANOVA test was performed to assess statistical significance. P