Assessing the technical skills of surgical trainees
J D Beard1, B C Jolly, D I Newble
1Sheffield Vascular Institute, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, UK. Jonathan.D.Beard@sth.nhs.uk <Jonathan.D.Beard@sth.nhs.uk>
The British Journal of Surgery
|April 6, 2005
Summary
Simple surgical skill simulations predict operating theatre competence. Objective assessment via direct observation and video recording is feasible and reliable for surgical training.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Education
- Medical Simulation
- Surgical Skills Assessment
Background:
- Assessing surgical trainees' technical skills is crucial for patient safety.
- Objective assessment methods in the operating theatre are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if simple skill simulations predict operating theatre competence.
- To assess the feasibility and reliability of direct observation and video recording for surgical assessment.
Main Methods:
- 33 general surgical trainees performed skill simulations (knotting, suturing, dissection, ligation, anastomosis).
- Operative competence was assessed during saphenofemoral disconnections (SFDs) via direct observation and video recording.
Main Results:
- High inter-rater reliability was found between direct observation and video assessment (alpha = 0.96).
- Simulation scores for dissection and ligation, along with prior SFDs performed, best predicted operative competence (64% variance explained).
Conclusions:
- Deconstructing operations into components allows for simulation-based practice and assessment.
- Direct observation and video recording are feasible and reliable methods for formative and summative surgical competence assessment.
