Student-selected components in surgery: providing practical experience and increasing student confidence

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training

Background:

• UK and Ireland medical curricula recommend student-selected components (SSCs).
• The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) implemented a 6-week surgical SSC.
• The SSC aims to enhance practical skills, provide mentorship, and prepare students for internship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a surgical SSC in developing practical skills.
• To assess the impact of the SSC on student confidence and career intentions.

Main Methods:

• A 6-week surgical SSC focused on specialty exposure, practical skills, and team integration.
• Online pre- and post-course surveys assessed student attitudes and skill confidence.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in Likert scale scores for all assessed practical skills.
• Students reported feeling better prepared for internship and showed increased interest in surgical careers.

Conclusions:

• The surgical SSC effectively improved student confidence in essential practical skills for medical practice.
• Dedicated SSCs can positively influence medical students' career choices towards surgery.