Journal of surgical education
-
Patients have identified the knowledge of a physician's level of training as important. Previous studies show equally poor patient's understanding of the medical education hierarchy. Given the importance to the patient and the possible effect on patient satisfaction, it is critical to evaluate patient's understanding of the orthopedic educational hierarchy. The specific aim of this study is to evaluate patient's understanding of the role of an orthopedic resident as it pertains to their orthopedic care. ⋯ Patient's knowledge of the role the resident physician provides, in their care, is variable. Higher levels of education appear predictive of better understanding. Patients have difficulty discerning where residents fit in the medical hierarchy. Despite this misunderstanding, patients find it very important that they know the physician's level of training. Given the patient's high priority of knowing the level of training of the doctors who care for them and their frequent misunderstanding of the medical hierarchy, steps should be taken to better educate patients as to who is caring for them. Besides being important for patient's informed consent, it may improve patient satisfaction.
-
Chest tube thoracostomies are common surgical procedures, but little is known about how practitioners learn the skill. This study evaluates the frequency with which correctly performed tasks are executed by subjects during chest tube thoracostomies. ⋯ Avoiding the neurovascular bundle, controlled pleural entry, and finger sweeps are most often performed incorrectly among novices. This information can help instructors to emphasize key didactic steps, possibly easing trainees' learning curve.
-
The implementation of work hour restrictions across North America have resulted in decreased levels of self injury and medical errors for Residents. An arbitration ruling in Quebec has led to further curtailment of work hours beyond that proposed by the ACGME. This may threaten Resident quality of life and in turn decrease the educational quality of surgical residency training. ⋯ The arbitration argued that work- hour restrictions would be necessary to improve quality of life for trainees and hence improve patient safety. Results from this study demonstrate the exact opposite in a large majority of respondents, who report a poorer quality of life and a self-reported inability on their part to provide continuous and safe patient care.
-
Evaluation of skill-acquisition process in mitral valve repair techniques: a simulation-based study.
Increased patient awareness, duty-hour restrictions, escalating costs, and time constraints in the operating room have revolutionized surgical education. A bovine heart model was designed for training in mitral valve repair procedures. In this article, we aimed to share our experience with this model and to test the validity of simulation with respect to skill acquisition during the training course. ⋯ This simulation model of mitral valve repair helped in skill acquisition on monthly basis in both resident groups.