Journal of surgical education
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Comparative Study
Comparison of surgical residency applicants from U.S. medical schools with U.S.-born and foreign-born international medical school graduates.
Compare characteristics of U.S. medical school graduates with U.S.-born and foreign-born international medical school (IMG) graduates. ⋯ IMGs are older, frequently male, hold more advanced degrees, and produce more scholarly works but require multiple attempts to pass the USMLE. IMGs also hold more jobs after graduation with most positions being in research or surgery.
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The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) defines a "handoff" as a contemporaneous, interactive process of passing patient-specific information from one caregiver to another for the purpose of ensuring the continuity and safety of patient care. The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive investigation on the determinants of an effective handoff management system. Specifically, we sought to address the following null hypotheses: There is no difference before and after implementation of a new, low-cost, low-tech process for surgery patient handoffs in accuracy of information, completeness, clarity of exact time of patient transfer, and number of tasks appropriately handed off. ⋯ By simplifying and standardizing the handoff instrument, we demonstrated improvements in resident perceptions of accuracy, completeness, and number of tasks transferred. This low-cost, low-tech paradigm may be useful to others.
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The objectives for this study are as follows: (1) to determine whether a weekly educational program for surgical residents resulted in an improvement in 5-year first-time pass rates on the ABS qualifying (QE), certifying (CE), and combined (QE/CE) examinations at our institution and (2) to determine a minimum ABSITE threshold for predicting ABS pass rates. ⋯ An educational program of weekly assigned reading, followed by weekly examinations prepared and administered by the PD, resulted in an increase in the 5-year first-time pass rates on the QE, CE, and combined QE/CE. An ABSITE score less than the 30th percentile, or scoring less than the 35th percentile more than once during residency, identified a group at significantly increased risk of failing the QE. Programs that seek to increase the ABS examinations passage rates should consider instituting this type of program.
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To identify the learning needs of faculty members who are not perceived by residents as outstanding teachers in the operating room. ⋯ Resident perceptions of operating room teaching by faculty surgeons are strongly associated with overall perceptions of the surgeon and with perceptions of specific teaching behaviors exhibited in the operating room. Regression analysis suggests that approximately 76% of the variability in resident evaluations of operating room teaching may be associated with the extent to which a surgeon demonstrates a positive attitude toward teaching, remains calm and courteous, and provides a "hands on" learning experience. Faculty development efforts aimed at operating room teaching that focus on reinforcing or modifying these behaviors may contribute to improved overall perceptions of faculty by residents.
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The first year of surgical training sometimes includes marginally educational or service-related tasks with limited direct interactions with faculty. We instituted a prototype rotation to address the changing needs and expectations of our intern class. This study was designed to evaluate the new rotation 17 months after it was implemented. ⋯ Changing program requirements, time restrictions, public scrutiny, and increasing awareness for quality of life all obligate a paradigm shift in surgical education. Our outpatient rotation is logistically simple and rewarding both for residents and faculty.