Journal of surgical education
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Surgical training is currently undergoing many changes. Moves toward an outcomes-based education based on achievement of core competencies will have a significant impact on how trainees are taught and evaluated. New strategies must therefore be sought to enhance surgical training to achieve outstanding resident education and safe patient care. ⋯ This article reviews the attributes of expert surgeons, as well as the role of deliberate practice, contextual interference, and distributed practice in the development of expertise. The role of simulation in surgical training is also discussed. The findings have direct relevance to surgical training and continuing medical educational courses, and these results may help in the design of future surgical training programs.
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Editorial Comment
Things ain't what they used to be and probably never was (Will Rogers).
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Comparative Study
The utility of endovascular simulation to improve technical performance and stimulate continued interest of preclinical medical students in vascular surgery.
New training paradigms in vascular surgery allow for early specialization out of medical school. Surgical simulation has emerged as an educational tool for trainees to practice procedures in a controlled environment allowing interested medical students to perform procedures without compromising patient safety. The purpose of this study is to assess the ability of a simulation-based curriculum to improve the technical performance and interest level of medical students in vascular surgery. ⋯ The use of high fidelity endovascular simulation within an introductory vascular surgery course improves medical student performance with respect to technical skill, patient safety parameters, and global performance assessment. Mentored exposure to endovascular procedures on the simulator positively impacts long term medical student attitudes towards vascular surgery. Simulator-based courses may have the potential to be an important component in the assessment and recruitment of medical students for future surgical training programs.
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A fundamental premise of establishing collaborative relationships between residents and nurses is a basic understanding of the attributes of each group. The intent of this study was to determine what surgical nurses know about surgical residents. ⋯ Despite the importance of the collaborative relationship in surgical patient care, surgical nurses have a limited understanding of surgical residents. Educating nurses about the education, roles, and responsibilities of surgical residents might improve collaborative relationships and ultimately patient care.
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With the creation of the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) in 2002, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation established a mechanism for recognizing medical students who demonstrate exemplary humanism/professionalism/communication skills. Currently, 80 medical schools have GHHS chapters. Selection is based on peer nomination using a validated tool. The objective of this survey was to assess the percentage of residency program directors (PDs) who are aware of and are using GHHS membership as a residency selection tool. ⋯ IM PDs were more aware of GHHS (70%) than SURG PDs (30%). Awareness was related to the favorable ranking of GHHS as a selection criterion for humanism/professionalism/service orientation. PDs familiar with GHHS were from larger programs, were likely to know residents who were members, and were likely to think that GHHS membership predicted humanistic care. Membership in GHHS may set candidates apart from their peers and allow PDs to distinguish objectively the candidates who demonstrate compassionate medical care. Increased knowledge about the GHHS may therefore serve to be a useful adjunct for PDs when selecting medical students for their residency programs.