Resident Physician Walkout and High-Incidence Cancer Operation Volumes in South Korea

Was there an association of the 2024 resident physician walkout with cancer operation volumes in South Korea?In this cross-sectional study with interrupted time-series analysis of national claims data from 2019 to 2024, cancer operation volumes at tertiary hospitals decreased markedly after the walkout, with incidence rate ratios of 0.68 to 0.80 for 5 of 6 cancers. General hospitals partially absorbed displaced cases, offsetting up to 58% of breast cancer procedures and 16% to 25% of other operations.This study suggests that the resident shortage substantially disrupted essential cancer operations, highlighting the structural vulnerability arising from an overreliance on resident physicians.

Corresponding Author: Hyejin Joo, PhD, Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, 73 Goryeodae-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea (hjjoo122@gmail.com).

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