Brescia AA, Louis C, Luc JGY, Coyan GN, Han JJ, Blitzer D, Wilder FG, Bergquist CS, Bloom JP, Reddy RM, Sandhu G, Mehaffey JH. The utilization of educational resources published by the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association.
JTCVS OPEN 2022;
11:241-264. [PMID:
36172408 PMCID:
PMC9510814 DOI:
10.1016/j.xjon.2022.04.047]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The Thoracic Surgery Residents Association (TSRA) is a trainee-led cardiothoracic surgery organization in North America that has published a multitude of educational resources. However, the utilization of these resources remains unknown.
METHODS
Surveys were constructed, pilot-tested, and emailed to 527 current cardiothoracic trainees (12 questions) and 780 former trainees who graduated between 2012 and 2019 (16 questions). The surveys assessed the utilization of TSRA educational resources in preparing for clinical practice as well as in-training and American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) certification examinations.
RESULTS
A total of 143 (27%) current trainees and 180 (23%) recent graduates responded. A higher proportion of recent graduates compared with current trainees identified as male (84% vs 66%; P = .001) and graduated from 2- or 3-year traditional training programs (81% vs 41%; P < .001), compared with integrated 6-year (8% vs 49%; P < .001) or 4 + 3 (11% vs 10%; P = .82) pathways. Current trainees most commonly used TSRA resources to prepare for the in-training exam (75%) and operations (73%). Recent graduates most commonly used them to prepare for Oral and/or Written Board Exams (92%) and the in-training exam (89%). Among recent graduates who passed the ABTS Oral Board Exam on the first attempt, 82% (97/118) used TSRA resources to prepare, versus only 48% (25/52) of recent graduates who passed after multiple attempts, failed, have not taken the exam, or preferred not to answer (P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS
Current cardiothoracic trainees and recent graduates have utilized TSRA educational resources extensively, including to prepare for in-training and ABTS Board examinations.
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