Development of Technical Skills

Abstract

The goal of this article is to provide a focused overview of technical skills education inside the operating room (OR), opportunities for learning outside of the OR (with a focus on simulation), and methods for measuring technical skills. In addition, the authors review the role of maintenance of certification in continuing education and quality improvement and consider the role that simulation plays in this process. The perspectives on teaching in the OR of both residents and faculty going into the case affect the learning environment, and preoperative interactions between attendings and residents to establish learning needs and goals are important. Furthermore, in regards to attending surgeons improving their skills, interaction with more experienced peers and feedback during and after a procedure can be beneficial. Simulation is increasingly being utilized as an education tool outside of the OR. Training in plastic surgery is poised to exploit simulation in multiple technical areas. There is potential to utilize these simulation environments to collect real-time data, such as motion, visual focus, and pressure. How to incorporate technical skill evaluation results in ways that are most beneficial for learning should be the focus of future research and curriculum development. Finally, simulation could be better utilized as a mechanism for both self and peer evaluation and assessment for continuing education and quality improvement. Professional development for faculty and surgery trainees on how to engage with simulation for teaching and learning and how to translate these experiences into improving patient care will be required.

Clinical Teaching of Residents in Operating Room: A Review of Methods and Strategies for Strengthening Teaching and Learning

“…Therefore, it is necessary for clinical instructors to become acquainted with the strategies and methods of teaching and learning enhancement in the operating room. The familiarity of surgical teachers with strategies and principles of learning increases their ability to provide effective education and creates a rewarding environment for teachers and learners to interact (1,6).…”

“…The limitation of training hours and potential time constraints in the operating room also affect education in this setting (2,3). In order to remove these limitations and promote the teaching-learning process in the operating room, application of modern educational approaches and effective teaching methods are necessary (4,6,7).…”

“…Targeted and planned teaching can help learners become qualified surgeons (4). Experienced surgical trainers and use of effective teaching methods can provide unique opportunities in operating room training (4,6,7,10). The results of numerous studies show that application of simple educational strategies or employment of teaching methods and models with a correct and multi-stage structure can help to create such educational opportunities.…”

“…One of the essential elements of teaching technical and surgical skills is the preparation of the learner for education, which is one of the important tasks of an instructor. At this stage, what the learner intends to learn is determined (6). Learner preparation before operation creates a more productive learning environment.…”

Perception of the operation theater learning environment and related factors among anesthesia students in Ethiopian higher education teaching hospitals: a multicenter cross-sectional study

“…Clinical instructors must become proficient in the techniques and strategies that will enhance teaching and learning in operating rooms. Understanding learning methodologies and principles improves instructors’ capacity to provide successful instruction and fosters gratifying faculty-learner engagement [ 24 , 25 ]. Learning settings are among the crucial aspects of learning, along with the skills and traits of clinical teachers [ 26 ].…”