Aligning Open-Access Surgical Education With Need: Curriculum Coverage and Gaps in the United Nations Global Surgery Learning Hub (SURGhub).

Abstract

Background: The United Nations Global Surgery Learning Hub (SURGhub) is a community-led, open-access digital platform providing quality-assured surgical education, particularly in low-resource settings. However, growth in course numbers and learner reach does not necessarily ensure balanced coverage of competencies required in early training. We mapped SURGhub content against selected early training curricula to identify priority gaps and establish a baseline for educational improvement.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional curriculum mapping study of SURGhub courses available in January 2026. Courses classified as Level 1 or 2 were mapped against selected benchmark curricula in surgery, anesthesia, obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN), and perioperative nursing. Reviewers applied a three-component rubric assessing relevant content quantity, coverage breadth, and early training essentiality. Component scores were summed to produce a total score from 0 to 6, with domains classified as critical, high-, moderate-, or low-priority curriculum gaps.

Results: A total of 82 eligible courses were evaluated across 99 curriculum domains. Mean domain scores were highest for surgery at (3.67/6), followed by anesthesia (2.53), OBGYN (0.84), and perioperative nursing (0.83). Coverage was broad but uneven. Practical perioperative topics, trauma, patient safety, and procedural skills were better represented than foundational sciences and several specialty-specific clinical domains. Critical gaps were identified in one of 12 surgical domains, five of 19 anesthesia domains, eight of 12 perioperative nursing domains, and 37 of 56 OBGYN domains.

Conclusions: SURGhub demonstrates the potential of open-access, low-bandwidth digital education to expand access to surgical learning globally, but Levels 1 and 2 course coverage was uneven across selected benchmark curricula. Approximately two-thirds of evaluated OBGYN and perioperative nursing domains were classified as critical gaps. This mapping establishes a baseline for curriculum-aligned content commissioning and repeated evaluation. Future research should evaluate course uptake, completion, and learner outcomes following targeted content development while maintaining attention to accessibility, engagement, and equity.