3.1.1. Location, aim, and population
The results from a total of 20 articles were analysed in this review. Of these, 12 papers were from the US, 5 from the UK, and 1 from Sudan, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia each. The population of these studies consisted of medical students, foundation doctors, core surgical trainees, interns, and general surgery residents. Any papers that included only CT trainees, professors or consultants were excluded from this review. These papers discussed the level of interest, perceptions on a career in CT surgery, factors that impacted decision making and interventions used in medical education such as simulation, surgical anatomy lessons, scholarship awards, and mentorship to expose students and trainees to CT surgery at an earlier stage. A couple of studies also discussed the barriers in which female medical students may need to overcome and the factors that motivate their career choice in CT. The length of training, the presence of female role-models in CT surgery, and lifestyle were key factors involved in decision-making.