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Surgical procedure logging with use of a hand-held computer
Sandra Fischer1, Stephen E Lapinsky, Jason Weshler
1Mount Sinai Hospital and Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, University of Toronto, Ont.
Canadian Journal of Surgery. Journal Canadien De Chirurgie
|October 22, 2002
Summary
Hand-held computers in surgical residency programs show promise for procedure logging and data analysis. However, consistent user adoption requires ongoing training and support to maximize benefits for surgical education.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education Technology
- Surgical Training
- Digital Health Records
Background:
- Traditional surgical procedure logging methods can be cumbersome.
- Integrating technology into residency programs is an evolving area.
- Efficient data management is crucial for evaluating surgical training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of using hand-held computing devices for surgical procedure logging in a residency program.
- To establish an internet-linked central database for procedural data.
- To evaluate user acceptance and identify barriers to technology adoption.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 69 general surgery residents at the University of Toronto.
- Distribution of hand-held computers with preinstalled logging software.
- Collection of survey data on prior computer use and logging methods.
Main Results:
- After a 5-month pilot, 38% of residents regularly used the procedure-logging program.
- Usage rates were higher among junior residents.
- The central database yielded valuable insights into trainee performance and program effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Hand-held devices are feasible for procedure logging and creating reference databases in surgical divisions.
- Uniform user acceptance was not achieved, highlighting the need for continued training and support.
- The generated procedure database offers critical data for optimizing surgical trainees' educational experiences.