Journal of surgical education
-
Operative experience during residency lays the foundation for independent practice and additional specialty training following general surgery residency. The aim of this study was to examine operative experience of general surgery residents and detail the results of an intervention aimed at improving resident record keeping in the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) case log system to better reflect their experience. ⋯ Based on our results, we found that weekly displays of cases improved resident record keeping in the ACGME case log system, especially by junior residents. We believe that the addition of first assistant column on M&M lists, periodic audits reviewed at conferences, and semiannual evaluations will help junior residents more accurately report their experience during training.
-
Controlled Clinical Trial
Surgical Baseball Cards: Improving Patient- and Family-Centered Care.
Busy surgical services with diverse team members and frequent handoffs create barriers to patient- and family-centered care. The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of cards containing team member names, roles, and photographs-"Surgical Baseball Cards" (SBCs)-would improve patient recognition of caregivers and whether this would improve patient satisfaction. ⋯ SBCs provide reasonable value by improving patient recognition of healthcare team members and understanding of team member roles, and they are associated with positive patient feedback regarding coordination of care and patient-centered care.
-
Global rating scales are commonly used to rate surgeons' skill level. However, these tools lack granularity required for specific skill feedback. Recently, an alternative framework has been developed that is designed to measure technical errors during laparoscopy. The purpose of the present study was to gather validity evidence for the Generic Error Rating Tool (GERT) in gynecologic laparoscopy. ⋯ GERT allows for objective and reproducible assessment of technical errors during gynecologic laparoscopy and could be used for performance analysis and personalized surgical education and training.
-
Error management training is an approach that encourages exposure to errors during initial skill acquisition so that learners can be equipped with important error identification, management, and metacognitive skills. The purpose of this study was to determine how an error-focused training program affected performance, retention, and transfer of central venous catheter (CVC) placement skills when compared with traditional training methodologies. ⋯ These data indicate that incorporating error-based activities and discussions into training programs can be beneficial for skill retention and transfer.
-
Comparative Study
Resident Surgeons Underrate Their Laparoscopic Skills and Comfort Level When Compared With the Rating by Attending Surgeons.
The development of operative skills during general surgery residency depends largely on the resident surgeons' (residents) ability to accurately self-assess and identify areas for improvement. We compared evaluations of laparoscopic skills and comfort level of residents from both the residents' and attending surgeons' (attendings') perspectives. ⋯ A gap exists between residents' and attendings' perception of residents' laparoscopic skills and comfort level in performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. These findings call for improved communication between residents and attendings to ensure that graduates are adequately prepared to operate independently. In the context of changing methods of resident evaluations that call for explicitly defined competencies in surgery, it is essential that residents are able to accurately self-assess and be in general agreement with attendings on their level of laparoscopic skills and comfort level while performing a case.