The impact of a comprehensive course in advanced minimal access surgery on surgeon practice

Practising surgeons need an effective means for learning new skills and procedures in advanced minimal access surgery (MASA). Currently, available educational methods include traditional continuing medical education symposia (1-day courses), instructional videos, mentoring, or comprehensive courses that combine lectures, skills laboratories and live surgery. The impact of comprehensive courses in advanced MASA on surgeons' knowledge, skills and practice has not been clearly established.

We completed a survey of all physicians who attended comprehensive courses in advanced gastrointestinal MASA held at the Centre for Minimal Access Surgery (CMAS) in Hamilton, Ont.

Of 158 course attendees, we received 65 responses (response rate 41%). Fifty-six men and 9 women responded, with a mean age of 44.9 years and a mean practice duration of 12.3 years. Eighty-seven percent of respondents were community-based surgeons. As a result of attending CMAS courses, respondents felt they experienced a substantial improvement in the knowledge and skills required to complete MASA. After a comprehensive course at CMAS, most respondents reported that they had introduced MASA procedures into their practice. The mean overall impact of a course on a surgeon's practice (with respect to patient referrals, procedural armamentarium and personal satisfaction) was rated by respondents at 3.92 (standard deviation [SD] 0.71; Likert scale 1-5, 1=negative, 5=positive).

A comprehensive course in advanced MASA has a positive impact on attendees' knowledge and skills. Ultimately, surgeons attending MASA courses will begin to introduce new MASA procedures into surgical practice. These courses have a distinct role in the teaching of MASA to surgeons in practice.