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.

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Key information

Conditions

Perceptions of Orthopaedic Surgery Among UK Resident Doctors

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Who can participate

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Are currently employed within the UK National Health Service (NHS) as a Foundation Year 1 (F1), Foundation Year 2 (F2), Core Training Year 1 (CT1), Core Training Year 2 (CT2) or trust-grade/non-training senior house officer (SHO).
Are aged 18 years or older.
Are able to read and understand English sufficiently to comprehend the participant information and complete the online questionnaire.
Are willing and able to provide electronic informed consent before taking part.
Agree to participate voluntarily and understand that participation is anonymous and non-compulsory.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Perceived inclusivity of the specialty

Time frame: Baseline (At a single time point: at completion of the online survey)

Measured using responses to: "I would consider orthopaedics to be an inclusive specialty." Quantified on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree).Mean scores will be compared between participants with and without prior orthopaedic experience.
Perceived work-life balance

Time frame: Baseline (At a single time point: at completion of the online survey)

Measured using responses to: "I believe orthopaedics offers a good work-life balance." Quantified on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). Mean scores will be compared between participants with and without prior orthopaedic experience.
Interest in pursuing a career in orthopaedics

Time frame: Baseline (At a single time point: at completion of the online survey)

Measured using responses to: "Would you personally consider pursuing a career in orthopaedics?" Quantified on a 5-point Likert scale (definitely no → definitely yes). Used to explore the relationship between perceptions (inclusivity, lifestyle) and career interest.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust

Other

Registry information

Official study title

ORTHO BRO: Opinions, Perceptions, & Thoughts of British Resident Doctors on Orthopaedics

Acronym: ORTHO BRO

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Dec 15, 2025
Registry last updated: Dec 15, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.