Eliciting and storing operative information from expert surgeons using surgical scripts: a content analysis study

Surgical trainees learn many of the minutiae of operative technique at the operating table. As trainees' operating exposure decreases, so will the opportunity for the trainee to work with and learn from a range of different surgeons. Surgical scripts provide a complementary source of expert operative information from individual surgeons. This pilot study examines whether a surgical script is an effective way of eliciting the combined operative information from a group of surgical experts.

One operative step was taken from a surgical script: tracing the right ureter in a right hemicolectomy. A group of surgeons were asked to review the information supporting this step in the script and to add all their own hints and tips for the step. The comments elicited from the surgeons were subjected to content analysis.

The original script contained 15 points of information backing up the ureter step, more than 3 times as many as in the most detailed operative textbook found. Nineteen surgeons contributed 50 additional comments, providing more detail, extra information, alternative techniques and different opinions. Some of the comments have been incorporated into a revised script.

This pilot study showed that a surgical script is an effective way of eliciting and storing detailed operative information from a group of surgeons. The relevance of these findings is discussed. The resulting scripts on line should be helpful in optimising trainees' operating time.