Residents' Perspectives of Pregnancy and Growing a Family During Surgical Training: A Review of the Literature

As more female surgical residents choose to start families during training, concerns regarding program support and peer perceptions emerge. Delayed parenthood, stress, and even attrition can result from inadequate support systems. Database search (MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE) in June 2022 identified 17 relevant studies published between 2012-2022, including systematic reviews and qualitative surveys, focused on surgical residents/fellows and program directors. The thematic analysis explored themes related to supporting residents navigating parenthood. Thematic analysis of 17 studies (systematic reviews and qualitative surveys with residents/fellows and program directors) identified key recurring themes related to challenges experienced by surgical residents navigating parenthood. The themes included modified work schedules, mentorship programs, cross-coverage plans, lactation support, childcare options, and clear leave policies. By understanding these challenges and implementing tailored support strategies, surgical residency programs can foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for residents starting families. This can improve resident well-being, reduce attrition, and create a significantly more enjoyable training experience for all involved. This review aims to provide insight into residents' difficulties while pregnant or considering pregnancy and identify changes programs could implement to promote a more supportive culture for pregnant residents.

Work Patterns and Intensity of Chinese Surgical Residents- A Multicenter Time-and-Motion Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to record and analyze surgical resident trainee time allocation among junior doctors in China in order to understand the training environment and optimize realistic training and patient care objectives.

DESIGN

Multicenter observational time and motion study.

SETTING

Multicenter, carried out in 5 tier 3 public hospitals in 5 provinces across China.

PARTICIPANTS

Surgical resident trainees at various stages of training were eligible to enter the study, total n = 44. Registered nurses were eligible to be observers, n = 4 from each hospital.  An expert team comprising 4 chief surgeons and 10 surgical residents participated in establishing the clinical activity list.

RESULTS

Participants were observed during working hours (08.00-17.00) for 10 consecutive working days and time spent on different activities were recorded. Work patterns between hospitals were often dissimilar. Most time was spent on direct patient care (34.1%; 95% CI, 28.0%-40.1%) followed by indirect patient care (24.4%; 95% CI, 15.5%-33.2%), scholarly activity (21.1%; 95% CI, 13.7%-28.5%) and other (20.4%; 95% CI, 14.1%-26.8%). Subcategory analysis showed that the amount of time spent each day performing certain tasks was 137 minutes for operating theatre tasks, 103 minutes for medical record-keeping, 25 minutes for direct patient contact, 20 minutes being taught, 12 minutes teaching others, 12 minutes hand-over time, and 0 minutes of outpatient clinic attendance. Inter-observer reliability of 96.5% was obtained prior to recordings.

CONCLUSIONS

Chinese surgical resident work patterns fall within the range found in other international studies albeit with some exceptions. The training environment appears broadly suitable for competence-based surgical training in China. Inadequate outpatient activity has led to changes in trainee work rosters and trainer requirements. Both strengths and deficiencies were confirmed and addressed. Further audit is required.

Relationship between emotional intelligence and resilience among surgical residents

Background and Objective

Surgical residents face many challenges and stressors during their training. Some residents can cope better with such difficult situations, whereas others experience burnout and anxiety. Emotional intelligence (EI) and resilience are personality traits that may be associated with a better response to adverse situations.

Methodology

A cross-sectional analytical study using validated questionnaires the Schutte Self-report EI Test (SSEIT) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25) was conducted to assess EI and resilience among the participants. Data were collected through the hard copies of the questionnaires, compiled using Microsoft Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 26. P < 0.5 was considered significant. The scores of EI and resilience were compared to evaluate the relationship between them.

Results

A correlation analysis was performed between EI and resilience by comparing the scores obtained from SSEIT and CD-RISC. Our analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between EI and resilience (r = 0.59, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Based on our results, we can say that EI and resilience are positively correlated. This means that an emotionally intelligent person should exhibit a resilient behavior.

Fertility and Pregnancy: How Do These Affect Family Planning and Surgeon Health?

There are unique considerations to fertility and pregnancy for women surgeons. Women surgeons often decide to delay pregnancy and childbearing due to concerns of conflict with work and training. This is particularly true for surgical trainees who face many obstacles, including bias from peers and program directors, and work-life conflict. As such, rates of infertility are higher compared with the general population. Women surgeons require assisted reproductive technologies more often than the general population. During pregnancy, there are also additional occupational hazards that are unique to a surgical career. Overall, we must be aware of these issues to support surgeons who decide to become parents during a surgical career.

Relationship Between Gender, Training Level and Goal Orientation Achievement Motivation: Implications for Learners and Faculty

PURPOSE

Achievement goal orientation (GO) theory describes Mastery (M), one's intrinsic drive for competency for the sake of competency, and performance approach (PAP), a drive for competency by displaying competency, which are both adaptive. In learners motivated by performance avoid (PAV), showing competency by avoiding appearing incompetent dominates (maladaptive). The aim of this study was to determine differences in GO by gender and training (PGY) level.

METHODS

A prospective, multi-institutional cohort of general surgery trainees participated in a cross-sectional study (2020-2021). Participants completed a 10-item instrument (the Goal Orientation in Surgical Trainees, GO-ST) measured on a 5-pointLikert scale (1 = never,3 = weekly,5 = daily). Student's t-tests and ANOVA F-test were used as appropriate.

RESULTS

A total of 144/164 trainees participated (87.8%). The sample was 40.0%(n = 56) female and 57.9%(n = 81) male; 21.3%(n = 30) were PGY1, 22.0%(n = 31) PGY2, 24.8%(n = 35) PGY3, 18.4%(n = 26) PGY4, 13.5%(n = 19) PGY5. There were no significant differences in mean scale scores by gender for Mastery (3.3 vs 3.5; p = 0.17), or PAP (3.7 vs 3.5; p = 0.10), but mean PAV scores were significantly higher for females (3.6 vs 3.3; p = 0.04). While there were no significant differences in mean Mastery and PAP scale scores by training level (p = 0.44; p = 0.31), there was a significant difference in PAV scores (p < 0.01). The frequency of PAV feelings decreased over 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Only PAV motivation differed by gender and training level. Understanding the psychology of motivation with this framework can aid both residents and programs in re-focusing on more adaptive learning strategies and supporting trainees in their transition to master surgeons.

Learning Environment is the Prevailing Factor in Surgical Residents' Favorite Rotations

OBJECTIVE

Understand the characteristics of residents' favorite rotations to improve the ability of educators to maximize positive learning experiences.

DESIGN

Novel cross-sectional survey developed through thematic analysis of focus groups with residents using 4-point Likert scales ranked from "Not at all important" to "Extremely important."

SETTING

Single university-affiliated urban hospital PARTICIPANTS: Clinical surgical residents BACKGROUND: Resident assessments of learning experiences vary between rotations leading to the development of "favorite" rotations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A novel survey instrument containing 31 characteristics divided into 4 thematic categories was developed following analysis of surgical resident focus groups. Clinical surgical residents were asked how important each characteristic was for determining their favorite rotation on a 4-point Likert Scale from "not at all important" to "extremely important." Two-sided independent sample T-tests were used.

RESULTS

The response rate was 59% (33/56) with proportional representation of postgraduate levels. Overall, 67% (22/33) of residents reported their favorite rotation was in their preferred specialty, 70% (23/33) reported their favorite rotation required >70 hours per week in the hospital, and 97% (32/33) of residents reported their favorite rotation required <2 days of clinic. Overall, the average ranking of the categories from most to least important was content (mean = 2.84, SD = 0.48), learning environment (mean = 2.67, SD = 0.57), working environment (mean = 2.38, SD = 0.56), and accomplishment (mean = 2.31, SD = 0.57). The only category with a statistically significant difference between junior and senior resident was content with seniors ranking it most important (mean = 3.35, SD = 0.93) compared to junior residents who ranked it least important (mean = 2.21, SD = 1.25), p = 0.01. Personal characteristics such as "Attendings cared about my learning" (mean = 3.56, SD = 0.50) and "I felt good at my job" (mean = 3.45, SD = 0.67), tended to be more important than structural characteristics such as "call schedule" (mean = 2.71, SD = 0.86), "formal didactics" (mean = 2.67, SD = 1.04), and "work-life balance" (mean = 2.70, SD = 0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates a novel understanding of the factors that contribute to resident preferences for certain rotations. Junior and senior residents attribute importance differently, which may provide the basis for level-appropriate improvements. Personal factors tended to be more contributory than structural factors, highlighting additional dimensions to examine when considering how to optimize certain rotations.

Patient Perceptions of Resident Involvement in Surgery: A Qualitative Study Using Surgical Video

OBJECTIVE

To improve patient-centered perioperative informed consent, this study used real surgical footage to identify key topics which might be discussed with patients regarding resident involvement in surgery.

DESIGN

We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 27 participants. The interviews included a video showing an attending and resident performing a procedure together. Questions focused on comfort with resident involvement and preferences regarding preoperative informed consent. Participants also described residents' participation in their own words.

SETTING

Participants were recruited from the infusion room of the allergy clinic and the treatment room of the dialysis clinic at a tertiary care facility in Nashville, TN (Vanderbilt University Medical Center).

PARTICIPANTS

Adult medical patients were recruited via periodic verbal announcements by the interviewer in the waiting rooms. Purposive sampling was used to increase demographic diversity. Participants with training in the clinical health professions (i.e., physicians, nurses, and medical assistants) were excluded.

RESULTS

Before watching the video, roughly half of participants imagined the resident to have a passive, bystander role, while the remaining imagined a more active role. Despite these differences, most participants found the video of attending-resident teamwork to be a reassuring depiction of resident involvement. When asked the best way to describe resident participation depicted in the video to patients, participants emphasized the need to focus on attending supervision, teamwork, reassurance, as well as resident presence, specific activities, and experience.

CONCLUSION

Although patients have varying perceptions regarding the role of trainees in surgery, most participants were comfortable with teamwork between an attending and resident, as depicted in the video. Our participants provided multiple practical ways to transparently articulate resident involvement for testing in future research.

Surgical Residents' Perspective on Online Education during COVID-19 Pandemic

&lt;b&gt; Introduction: &lt;/b&gt; The COVID-19 pandemic is an exceptional situation which has rigorously affected surgical education and training worldwide. This current situation has carved innovative ways like online teaching to counter the challenges of the pandemic faced by a surgical resident. However, online teaching is not complimentary to bedside teaching which is a traditional practice. Therefore, we designed this study to assess the residents' perceptive towards online learning as a mode of education which is extensively implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic at our centre. &lt;/br&gt;&lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt; Methods:&lt;/b&gt; This study was a cross-sectional survey. An online Google survey was circulated among junior residents in the department of General Surgery. This survey included residents' demographic profile, effect on working hours, their perception with online teaching, and effect on their surgical training during the COVID 19 pandemic. &lt;/br&gt;&lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; A total of 95 junior residents participated in this study. Surgical training and teaching was rigorously affected according to most of them and they also believe they have lost crucial training time in their tenure as a surgical resident. A majority found the communication with the faculty during online teaching adequate; however, the main drawback of online classes was the lack of clinical exposure and practical experience. Only 4.2% preferred 100% online teaching in future. &lt;/br&gt;&lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt; Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; COVID-19 pandemic has affected surgical training much more as compared to other medical fields. However, we believe online education is still a potential instrument during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online learning platforms can be used in future as a supplement to time-honoured classroom teaching and didactic lectures.

Current Surgical Trainee Perceptions and Experiences in Telehealth

Introduction: Broad expansion of telehealth technologies has been implemented during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to allow for physical distancing and limitation of viral transmission within health care facilities. Although telehealth has been studied for its impact on patients, payors, and practitioners, its educational impact is largely unstudied. To better understand the trainee experience and perception of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a survey of the membership of the American College of Surgeons Resident and Associate Society (RAS). Methods: An anonymous survey was sent to members of RAS. Descriptive analysis was used to report experiences and perceptions. Chi-square analysis was used to compare cohorts with and without exposure to telehealth. Results: Of the 465 RAS respondents, 292 (62.8%) reported knowledge of telehealth technologies at their institutions. The majority of these respondents experienced a decrease in in-person clinic volume (94.4%) and an associated increase in virtual clinic volume (95.7%) related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Trainee integration into telehealth workflows increased drastically from prepandemic levels (11% vs. 54.5%, p < 0.001). Likelihood of trainee exposure to telehealth was associated with university-based training programs or larger program size. Trainees demonstrated a desire for more integration and development of curricula. Conclusions: These data serve as the first description of surgical trainee experience with, and opinion of, telehealth. Trainees recognize the importance of their integration and training in telehealth. These results should be used to guide the development of workflows and curricula that integrate trainees into telemedicine clinics.

Trends in Strategic Napping in Surgical Residents by Gender, Postgraduate Year, Work Schedule, and Clinical Rotation

OBJECTIVE

To identify surgical resident and clinical rotation attributes which predict on-shift napping through objectively measured sleep patterns and work schedules over a 2-month period.

DESIGN

In a cross-sectional study, participants provided schedules, completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and wore sleep-tracking devices (Zulu watch) continuously for 8 weeks. Multiple linear regression predicted percent days with on-shift napping from resident and rotation characteristics.

SETTING

Greater Washington, DC area hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-two (n = 22) surgical residents rotating in at least 1 of 5 different clinical rotation categories.

RESULTS

Residents slept 6 hours within a 24-hour period (370 ± 129 minutes) with normal sleep efficiency (sleep efficiency (SE): 87.13% ± 7.55%). Resident ESS scores indicated excessive daytime sleepiness (11.64 ± 4.03). Ninety-five percent (n = 21) of residents napped on-shift. Residents napped on-shift approximately 32% of their working days and were most likely to nap when working between 23:00 and 05:00 hours. Earlier shift start times predicted less on-shift napping (B = -0.08, SE = 0.04, β = -2.40, t = -2.09, p = 0.05) while working more night shifts (B = 1.55, SE = 0.44, β = 4.12, t = 3.52, p = 0.003) and shifts over 24 hours (B = 1.45, SE = 0.55, β = 1.96, t = 2.63, p = 0.01) predicted more frequent on-shift napping.

CONCLUSIONS

Residents are taking advantage of opportunities to nap on-shift. Working at night seems to drive on-shift napping. However, residents still exhibit insufficient sleep and daytime sleepiness which could reduce competency and represent a safety risk to themselves and/or patients. These findings will help inform intervention strategies which are tailored to surgical residents using a biomathematical model of fatigue.

Mutual checking system for assessing trainee skills of thoracic surgery

BACKGROUND

Video-assisted surgery helps surgeons learn surgical skills efficiently. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of mutual evaluation of trainees' surgical techniques using tabulated common evaluation criteria.

METHODS

We created a check sheet in which a standard pulmonary lobectomy procedure was divided into six parts and the checkpoints to note listed. Both the trainees and trainers used tabulated common evaluation criteria to evaluate lobectomies performed by the trainees.

RESULTS

From September 2019 to March 2020, 30 lobectomies were performed by three trainees. The trainee's evaluations of their own procedures were relatively high at first, then decreased, then gradually increased; however, the trainers' evaluations showed no such tendency.

CONCLUSIONS

Mutual evaluation of surgery using tabulated common evaluation criteria enables trainees to review their own surgery objectively and receive evaluations by trainers, thus helping them to avoid the Dunning-Kruger effect and efficiently acquire basic surgical skills.

Telemedicine Experience of General Surgery Trainees: Impact on Patient Care and Education

OBJECTIVE

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on patient care, including the increased utilization of contact-free clinic visits using telemedicine. We looked to assess current utilization of, experience with, and opinions regarding telemedicine by general surgery residents at an academic university-based surgical training program.

DESIGN

A response-anonymous 19-question survey was electronically distributed to all general surgery residents at a single academic university-based general surgery residency program.

SETTING

University of Southern California (USC) general surgery residency participants: Voluntarily participating general surgery residents at the University of Southern California.

RESULTS

The response rate from USC general surgery residents was 100%. A majority of residents (76%) had utilized either video- or telephone-based visits during their careers. No resident had undergone formal training to provide telemedicine, although most residents indicated a desire for training (57.1%) and acknowledged that telemedicine should be a part of surgical training (75.6%). A wide variety of opinions regarding the educational experience of residents participating in telemedicine visits was elicited.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic brought telemedicine to the forefront as an integral part of future patient care, including for surgical patients. Additional investigations into nationwide telemedicine exposure and practice among United States general surgery residencies is imperative, and the impact of the implementation of telemedicine curricula on general surgery resident telemedicine utilization, comfort with telemedicine technology, and patient outcomes are further warranted.

COMPETENCIES

Practice-based learning, systems-based practice, interpersonal and communication skills.

Effect of COVID-19 on Surgical Training Across the United States: A National Survey of General Surgery Residents

INTRODUCTION

COVID-19 emerged as a global pandemic in 2020 and has affected millions of lives. Surgical training has also been significantly affected by this pandemic, but the exact effect remains unknown. We sought to perform a national survey of general surgery residents in the United States to assess the effect of COVID-19 on surgical resident training, education, and burnout.

METHODS

An anonymous online survey was created and distributed to general surgery residents across the United States. The survey aimed to assess changes to surgical residents' clinical schedules, operative volume, and educational curricula as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we sought to assess the impact of COVID-19 on resident burnout.

RESULTS

One thousand one hundred and two general surgery residents completed the survey. Residents reported a significant decline in the number of cases performed during the pandemic. Educational curricula were largely shifted toward online didactics. The majority of residents reported spending more time on educational didactics than before the pandemic. The majority of residents feared contracting COVID-19 or transmitting it to their family during the pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19 has had significant impact on surgical training and education. One positive consequence of the pandemic is increased educational didactics. Online didactics should continue to be a part of surgical education in the post-COVID-19 era. Steps need to be taken to ensure that graduating surgical residents are adequately prepared for fellowship and independent practice despite the significantly decreased case volumes during this pandemic. Surgery training programs should focus on providing nontechnical clinical training and professional development during this time.

Training Surgical Residents to Communicate with Their Patients: A Scoping Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVE

Effective communication is critical in surgical practice and the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education requires a focus on interpersonal and communication skills. Absent a national communication skills curriculum for surgical residents, individual programs have designed and implemented their own curricula. This scoping review explores communication training in North American surgical residency programs.

DESIGN

The review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, and included articles identified through searches of 6 publication databases conducted on June 25, 2019 and updated on April 2, 2020. Eligible studies described patient or family communication skills education for surgical residents in North America. Published abstracts were excluded. Article abstracts were screened by 2 reviewers. For articles meeting criteria, data on study setting, participants, curriculum design, educational techniques, and skills focus were extracted and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 2724 articles were identified after removing duplicates; 84 articles were reviewed in full text. Thirty-three met study criteria including 4 from 2006 to 2009 and 29 after 2010. The most common skills education focused on breaking bad news, followed by a range of topics, such as empathy, end of life and/or palliative care discussions, medical error disclosure, shared decision making, and informed consent. Some of the training was part of larger curriculum including team training or professionalism. Over half of the studies involved general surgery learners. The most common form of education included didactics followed by practice with peers or simulated patients. Only half of the programs described curricula involving multiple training sessions which is important for ongoing development and skill reinforcement.

CONCLUSIONS

Effective communication skills are important, necessary, and increasingly incorporated into surgical training programs. While the literature is expanding, few surgical residency programs have described communication curricula. This review serves as a guide for programs interested in developing their own communication curricula for surgical residents.

Communication Skills Training for General Surgery Residents

BACKGROUND

Although good communication skills are essential for surgeons, there is no formal communication training during general surgery residency.

OBJECTIVES

To implement a communication skills training program based on evidence-based teaching methods in general surgery residency.

DESIGN

We developed a 2-hour communication skills training program for general surgery residents, consisting of a small group skill practice session using role play with simulated patients along with real-time feedback from facilitators and observing peer residents. A board-certified palliative care physician and a board-certified surgeon facilitated each session. Outcome measures were self-assessment of preparedness with the session immediately before and after the session and 2 months after the session, resident satisfaction, and self-report frequency of skill practice. Results were compared between junior residents (postgraduate year 1-3) and senior residents (postgraduate year 4-5).

SETTING

Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, a tertiary care, urban academic center with a 5-year General Surgery Residency program.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-one out of 39 (79.4%) general surgery residents (20 junior and 11 senior) were trained over a 9-month period. All participants completed the immediate pre- and post-session surveys, and twenty residents (64.5%) completed the 2-month postsession follow-up survey.

RESULTS

Overall, self-assessment of preparedness for specific communication challenges improved significantly for 7 of 11 tasks. At baseline, senior residents felt significantly more prepared than junior residents in all 11 tasks. Junior residents' self-assessment of preparedness improved significantly in 10 of 11 tasks. Overall satisfaction with the session was very high (mean 4.74 on a 5-point scale). Residents reported high frequency of self-directed skill practice in the 2-month follow-up survey.

CONCLUSIONS

This 2-hour communication skills practice session for general surgery residents was feasible, and it improved resident self-assessment of preparedness in communication and augmented self-directed skill practice.

Is there a difference in laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed in a teaching hospital or a general hospital in The Netherlands?

Introduction: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy may have a complicated course with severe complications such as bile duct injury. Studies in other countries than the Netherlands report ambivalent results regarding the influence of a residency program on patient safety, efficacy and financial consequences. This study aims to determine whether there is a difference between laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed in a teaching hospital or a non-teaching general hospital in Dutch clinics. Materials and methods: A prospective cohort study was performed to examine the safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomies in a teaching hospital with a residency program and a general hospital without surgical residents. All consecutive cholecystectomies in these two hospitals between September 2014 and March 2015 were included. Patient characteristics, operative procedure, level of experience, operation time, per- and postoperative complications, mortality, length of hospital stay, re-admittance and conversions to laparotomy were analyzed. Results: A total of 294 consecutive cholecystectomies were performed in both hospitals. Cholecystectomies performed in the teaching hospital took an average of 25 min longer to complete compared with a non-residency setting. Both the number of conversions and the number of re-admissions were not significantly different between both clinics. The residency program showed smaller peroperative liver lesions along with more postoperative complications, with most complications in patients that required a conversion. Discussion: Current practice where residents perform supervised cholecystectomies should not be discouraged. We believe that is safe and lead to an acceptable increase in operation time.

Communication Skills Training for Surgical Residents: Learning to Relate to the Needs of Older Adults

BACKGROUND

It is vital for physicians and surgeons to communicate successfully with older adults, who will constitute one-fifth of the US population by 2030. Older adults often perceive themselves as stigmatized and powerless in healthcare settings. Effective communication leads to better patient compliance and satisfaction, which is now a component of Medicare hospital reimbursement and physician and surgeon compensation from hospitals and networks.

OBJECTIVE

To increase orthopaedic surgery resident understanding of the unique needs of older adults in order to maintain effective and sensitive communication with this vulnerable population.

DESIGN

A two-part training program (ongoing for 8 years) comprised of: 1) small-group interactive didactic sessions on aging issues; and 2) workshop demonstrations given by the residents to a group of older adults, followed by a Question & Answer session. Residents were assessed using a 22-item pre-post questionnaire covering medical knowledge of aging, attitudes toward older adults, and personal anxiety about aging. Older adult participants were surveyed for perceptions of residents' sensitivity toward them.

SETTING

Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, a specialized urban academic center, with a 5-year Orthopedic Surgery Residency program.

PARTICIPANTS

70 PGY3 residents, for whom the program is a requirement, and 711 older adult participants recruited from a community convenience sample.

RESULTS

Older adult participants: Of 711 participants, 672 (95%) responded; 96% strongly agreed/agreed that the residents had demonstrated sensitivity toward them. Residents: Of 70 residents, 35 (50%) were assessed. Mean knowledge scores increased significantly (p ≤ 0.001); five of nine attitude items (p ≤ 0.05) and one of four anxiety items improved significantly (p ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant change was seen in residents' attitudes and anxiety levels toward older adults, attributes that are usually deep seated and hard to change. Residents moved along the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Milestones continuum for three core competencies.

Professionalism: A Core Competency, but What Does it Mean? A Survey of Surgery Residents

OBJECTIVE

Professionalism is 1 of the 6 core competencies of the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education. Despite its obvious importance, it is poorly defined in the literature and an understanding of its meaning has not been evaluated on surgical trainees. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has previously published tenets of surgical professionalism. However, surgery residents may not share similar views on professionalism as those of the ACS.

DESIGN

Surgical residents of all levels at 2 surgery residencies located in the same city were interviewed regarding their personal definitions, thoughts, and experiences regarding professionalism during their training. They were then queried regarding 20 points of professionalism as outlined by the ACS tenets of professionalism.

SETTING

The study utilized the surgery residencies at William Beaumont Army Medical Center and Texas Tech University Health Science Center in El Paso, Texas.

PARTICIPANTS

All general surgery residents at each program were invited to participate in the study. Eighteen residents volunteered to take the survey and be interviewed.

RESULTS

The definitions of professionalism centered on clinical competence. Surgery residents conveyed experiences with both professional and unprofessional behavior. Seven of the 20 ACS tenets of professionalism were unanimously agreed upon. There were key differences between resident definitions and those as outlined by the ACS. The least agreed upon ACS tenets of professionalism include professionalism education, public education, and public health.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical trainees express personal experiences in both professional and unprofessional behavior. Their definitions of professionalism are not as expansive as those of the ACS and seem to focus on patient and colleague interaction. Due to the lack of congruency, a tailored curriculum for professionalism based upon ACS tenets appears warranted.

Psychological Effect of a Mass Casualty Event on General Surgery Residents

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the psychological effect of a mass casualty shooting event on general surgery residents.

DESIGN

Three and 7 months following the Pulse nightclub mass casualty shooting, the mental well-being of general surgery residents employed at the receiving institution was evaluated. A voluntary and anonymous screening questionnaire for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression (MD) was administered. Responses were stratified into 2 groups; residents who worked (ON-CALL) and residents who did not work (OFF-CALL) the night of the event. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests and are reported as median with interquartile range (IQR) or percentage.

SETTING

Level I trauma center.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-one general surgery residents.

RESULTS

Twenty-four residents (77%) returned the 3-month questionnaire: 10 ON-CALL and 14 OFF-CALL. There was no difference in PTSD and MD between the 2 groups (30% vs. 14%; p = 0.61) and (30% vs. 7%; p = 0.27), respectively. Twenty-three of the 24 residents responded to the 7-month questionnaire. Over time, the incidence of PTSD did not resolve in the ON-CALL group, but did resolve in the OFF-CALL group (30% vs. 0%; p = 0.07). There was no significant change in the incidence of MD in either group (30% vs. 8%; p = 0.28). At 7 months postevent, more residents in both groups stated that they had sought counseling (30% vs. 44%; p = 0.65) and (0% vs. 15%; p = 0.22).

CONCLUSIONS

The emotional toll associated with this mass casualty event had a substantial effect upon the general surgery residents involved. With the incidence of PTSD and MD identified, we believe that all residents should be provided with counseling following such events.

Efficacy and Feasibility of Objective Structured Clinical Examination in the Internal Assessment for Surgery Postgraduates

INTRODUCTION

Traditionally assessment in medical training programs has been through subjective faculty evaluations or multiple choice questions. Conventional examinations provide assessment of the global performance rather than individual competencies thus making the final feedback less meaningful. The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is a relatively new multidimensional tool for evaluating training. This study was carried out to determine the efficacy and feasibility of OSCE as a tool for the internal assessment of surgery residents.

METHODS

This study was carried out on the marks obtained by surgery residents at different levels of training in a single tertiary center in India over the 4 OSCEs conducted in the years 2015 and 2016. The marks of the OSCE were collected from the departmental records and analyzed. Reliability was calculated using internal consistency using Cronbach's α. Validity was calculated by item total correlation. Content validation was done by obtaining expert reviews from 5 experts using a proforma, to assess the content and checklist of each station of the OSCE.

RESULTS

A total of 49 surgery residents were assessed in small batches during the above mentioned period. Of the 4 OSCEs conducted by us, 3 had a high value of Cronbach's α of greater than 0.9, as opposed to the set standard of 0.7. Out of 23 stations used in the 4 examinations separately, only 3 stations were found to have a low correlation coefficient (item total correlation), and hence, a low validity. The remaining 20 stations were found to have a high validity. Expert review showed unanimous validation of the content of 17 out of the 23 stations, with few suggestions for change in the remaining 6 stations. The material and manpower used was minimal and easy to obtain, thus making the OSCE feasible to conduct.

CONCLUSION

OSCE is a reliable, valid. and feasible method for evaluating surgery residents at various levels of training.

The Learning Preferences of Applicants Who Interview for General Surgery Residency: A Multiinstitutional Study

BACKGROUND

Learning styles theory posits that learners have distinct preferences for how they assimilate new information. The VARK model categorizes learners based on combinations of 4 learning preferences: visual (V), aural (A), read/write (R), and kinesthetic (K). A previous single institution study demonstrated that the VARK preferences of applicants who interview for general surgery residency are different from that of the general population and that learning preferences were associated with performance on standardized tests. This multiinstitutional study was conducted to determine the distribution of VARK preferences among interviewees for general surgery residency and the effect of those preferences on United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores.

METHODS

The VARK learning inventory was administered to applicants who interviewed at 3 general surgery programs during the 2014 to 2015 academic year. The distribution of VARK learning preferences among interviewees was compared with that of the general population of VARK respondents. Performance on USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge was analyzed for associations with VARK learning preferences. Chi-square, analysis of variance, and Dunnett's test were used for statistical analysis, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The VARK inventory was completed by a total of 140 residency interviewees. Sixty-four percent of participants were male, and 41% were unimodal, having a preference for a single learning modality. The distribution of VARK preferences of interviewees was different than that of the general population (p = 0.02). By analysis of variance, there were no overall differences in USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge scores by VARK preference (p = 0.06 and 0.21, respectively). However, multiple comparison analysis using Dunnett's test revealed that interviewees with R preferences had significantly higher scores than those with multimodal preferences on USMLE Step 1 (239 vs. 222, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Applicants who interview for general surgery residency have a different pattern of VARK preferences than that of the general population. Interviewees with preferences for read/write learning modalities have higher scores on the USMLE Step 1 than those with multimodal preferences. Learning preferences may have impact on residency applicant selection and represents a topic that warrants further investigation.

Are Breast Cancer Outcomes Compromised by General Surgical Resident Participation in the Operation?

OBJECTIVE

The effect of surgery resident participation on breast cancer recurrence has not been previously reported. The objectives of this study were to determine if resident participation was associated with either immediate postoperative or long-term breast cancer outcomes.

DESIGN

We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected breast center database to identify all patients with breast cancer undergoing surgery in a single center during a 9-year period ending 1 January 2010. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on whether surgery residents completed more than 50% of the critical portions of the case (Resident group) or not. The outcomes of operation length, reoperative rates, morbidity, and the long-term outcomes of cancer recurrence were compared by group. Comparisons of immediate postoperative outcomes were made with chi-square and Fisher exact tests. Comparisons of operation length were analyzed by Wilcoxon rank-sum testing. Survival analyses were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank comparison. Multivariate analysis with Cox regression was also performed.

SETTING

The study occurred at a community-based hospital that has an accredited general surgery training program.

PARTICIPANTS

In all, 1107 consecutive patients with stage 0-3 breast cancer undergoing breast cancer operations were included.

RESULTS

Median age of patients was 64 years (range: 24-97). Median and longest follow-up were 5.5 and 12.5 years, respectively. Initial operation was breast conserving in 796 (72%) and mastectomy in 311 (28%). Of the 1107 patients, 887 (80.1%) had resident participation. The Resident group was associated with longer operative times. We identified no differences in operative morbidity, reoperations, overall survival, disease-free survival, or local-regional recurrence in the Resident and No Resident groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Resident involvement in breast cancer operations was associated with longer operative times but did not affect any other perioperative or cancer outcome in our institution. This information can be used to reassure program directors, attending surgeons, and patients if they have questions or concerns about the safety or effectiveness of cancer surgery when there is surgical resident participation.

Management of Chest Drains: A National Survey on Surgeons-in-training Experience and Practice

Background:

Chest tube insertion is a simple and sometimes life-saving procedure performed mainly by surgical residents. However with inadequate knowledge and poor expertise, complications may be life threatening.

Objective:

We aimed to determine the level of experience and expertise of resident surgeons in performing tube thoracostomy.

Methodology:

Four tertiary institutions were selected by simple random sampling. A structured questionnaire was administered to 90 residents after obtaining consent.

Results:

The majority of respondents were between 31 and 35 years. About 10% of respondents have not observed or performed tube thoracostomy while 77.8% of respondents performed tube thoracostomy for the first time during residency training. The mean score was 6.2 ± 2.2 and 59.3% of respondents exhibited good experience and practice. Rotation through cardiothoracic surgery had an effect on the score (P = 0.034). About 80.2% always obtained consent while 50.6% always used the blunt technique of insertion. About 61.7% of respondents routinely inserted a chest drain in the Triangle of safety. Only 27.2% of respondents utilized different sizes of chest tubes for different pathologies. Most respondents removed chest drains when the output is <50 mL. Twenty-six respondents (32.1%) always monitored air leak before removal of tubes in cases of pneumothorax. Superficial surgical site infection, tube dislodgement, and tube blockage were the most common complications.

Conclusion:

Many of the surgical resident lack adequate expertise in this lifesaving procedure and they lose the opportunity to learn it as interns. There is a need to stress the need to acquire this skill early, to further educate and evaluate them to avoid complications.

The effect of surgical resident learning style preferences on American Board of Surgery In-training Examination scores

BACKGROUND

There is a growing body of literature that suggests that learners assimilate information differently, depending on their preferred learning style. The VARK model categorizes learners as visual (V), aural (A), read/write (R), kinesthetic (K), or multimodal (MM). We hypothesized that resident VARK learning style preferences and American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) performance are associated.

METHODS

The Fleming VARK learning styles inventory was administered to all general surgery residents at a university hospital-based program each year to determine their preferred learning style. Resident scores from the 2012 and 2013 ABSITE were examined to identify any correlation with learning style preferences.

RESULTS

Over a 2-year period, residents completed 53 VARK inventory assessments. Most (51%) had a multimodal preference. Dominant aural and read/write learners had the lowest and highest mean ABSITE scores, respectively (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Residents with dominant read/write learning preferences perform better on the ABSITE than their peers did, whereas residents with dominant aural learning preferences underperform on the ABSITE. This may reflect an inherent and inadvertent bias of the examination against residents who prefer to learn via aural modalities.

Attitude and perceptions of the other underrepresented minority in surgery

OBJECTIVE

To perform a national climate survey of general surgery residents regarding attitudes and perceptions of the influence of sexual orientation on the training experience.

METHODS

A cross-sectional voluntary online survey was distributed to all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited general surgery programs. Residents self-identified as heterosexual, lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Descriptive statistics were performed. For the purposes of further analysis, respondents were classified as heterosexual or LGBT. Demographic characteristics and survey responses were examined by sexual orientation using the Fisher exact test.

RESULTS

Of 388 resident respondents, 10 identified as lesbian (2.6%), 24 as gay (6.3%), and 9 as bisexual (2.4%). More than 30% of LGBT residents did not reveal their sexual orientation when applying for general surgery residency owing to fear of not being accepted. No statistical differences were found between LGBT and heterosexual residents regarding future career plans, happiness at work, good program fit, and rapport with fellow residents. Although no differences were found in relationship status between LGBT and heterosexual residents, more LGBT residents reported feeling uncomfortable openly discussing their spouse/partner with fellow residents (36% vs 3.0%, p < 0.001) and with surgical attending physicians (59% vs 9.3 %, p < 0.001) when compared with heterosexual peers. Additionally, LGBT residents felt more uncomfortable bringing their spouse/partner to formal surgery department events (42% vs 2.7%, p < 0.001). Among all respondents, 54% (n = 206) witnessed homophobic remarks by nurses and residents and 30% (n = 114) by surgical attending physicians. Of LGBT residents, 57% reported actively concealing their sexual orientation from fellow residents owing to fear of rejection and 52% from surgical attending physicians owing to fear of poor evaluations. LGBT residents reported experiencing targeted homophobic remarks by fellow residents (21%) and by surgical attending physicians (12%). None of the surgical residents who experienced directed homophobic remarks reported the event to their supervisors for reasons including fear of reprisal (13%-17%), not wanting to create more "trouble" (25%-50%), and a belief that nothing would be done about the event (17%-25%).

CONCLUSION

Now, more than ever, issues related to sexual orientation have been at the forefront of political and public attention. No data exist that explore how these issues affect the training experience of general surgery residents. Our study showed that although there was no difference overall in reported work happiness or program fit, LGBT residents reported a greater need to conceal their personal lives from their surgery program peers and attending physicians. Whether these differences affect patient care, team work, career satisfaction, and personal cost of surgical training warrants further study.

Impact of the Surgical Research Methodology Program on surgical residents' research profiles

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether implementing the formal Surgical Research Methodology (SRM) Program in the surgical residency curriculum improved research productivity compared with the preceding informal Research Seminar Series (RSS).

METHODS

The SRM Program replaced the RSS in July 2009. In the SRM Program, the curriculum in Year-1 consisted of 12 teaching sessions on the principles of clinical epidemiology and biostatistics, whereas the focus in Year-2 was on the design, conduct, and presentation of a research project. The RSS consisted of 8 research methodology sessions repeated annually for 2 years along with the design, conduct, and presentation of a research project. Research productivity was measured as the number of peer-reviewed publications and the generation of studies with higher levels of evidence. Outcome measures were independently assessed by 2 authors to avoid bias. Student t test and chi-square test were used for the analysis. Frequencies, mean differences with 95% CI, and effect sizes have been reported.

RESULTS

In this study, 81 SRM residents were compared with 126 RSS residents. The performance of the SRM residents was superior on all metrics in our evaluation. They were significantly more productive and published more articles than the RSS residents (mean difference = 1.0 [95% CI: 0.5-1.5], p < 0.001) with an effect size of 0.26. The SRM residents presented significantly more projects that were of higher levels of evidence (systematic reviews/meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and prospective cohorts) than the RSS residents (52.5% vs 29%, p = 0.005). In addition, the research performance improved 11.0 grades (95% CI: 8.5%-13.5%, p < 0.001) with an effect size of 0.51 in favor of the SRM Program.

CONCLUSION

Although not all surgeons opt for a career as surgeon-scientist, knowledge of research methodology is crucial to appropriately apply evidence-based findings in clinical practice. The SRM Program has significantly improved the research productivity and performance of the surgical residents from all disciplines. The implementation of a similar research methodology program is highly recommended for the benefit of residents' future careers and ultimately, evidence-based patient care.