Changing the Paradigm in Surgical Education

Abstract

In an era of rapid advances in surgical technology, resident work hour restrictions, increasingly complex patients, and concerns regarding quality of care, new methods of surgical education must be adopted to ensure competency of our obstetric and gynecology trainees. Recent research suggests that laboratory-based surgical training may offer advantages over our current apprenticeship model. Laboratory-based training allows trainees to learn in a low-stress environment where mistakes are permissible, procedures can be repeated multiple times to improve muscle memory, and formative feedback can more rapidly lead to skill competence. Multiple studies have been conducted in general surgery and obstetrics and gynecology residencies that show that laboratory-based training more rapidly leads to improvement in technical skills and that residents who participate in this laboratory-based training are more competent when performing procedures on patients. Identifying more effective methods to teach and assess surgical skills will benefit not only our trainees but also the patients for whom we care.

Increase in Cesarean Operative Time Following Institution of the 80-Hour Workweek

“…[14][15][16] Studies in general surgery and obgyn suggest that laboratory-based training leads to more rapid improvement in technical skills and that residents who participate in laboratory-based/simulation training achieve greater competency during patient procedures. [17][18][19][20][21] Future studies should explore whether simulation training in cesarean delivery will affect the time required to complete the procedure. Our study has limitations.…”

Incorporating simulation into gynecologic surgical training

“…Simulation training allows learners to make and learn from their mistakes, repeat procedures multiple times to improve muscle memory, and enhance skill competency with the aid of formative feedback. 28 As medical advancements continue to transform the surgical arena, simulation will play an even larger role in training our future residents.…”

Virtual Reality Simulation: A Valuable Adjunct to Surgical Training

“…High performance musicians and athletes on average invest 10 years of intense practice before they are considered experts (13). Surgeons, by comparison, are currently expected to 'perform' to a competent level without first practicing in a low-risk environment.…”