Web-based portfolios: a valuable tool for surgical education

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Health Tools

Background:

• Residency programs increasingly adopt digital tools for training.
• Online portfolio systems offer a novel approach to managing and assessing resident progress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an implemented online portfolio system in a residency program.
• To analyze the system's early impact on competency-based performance.
• To assess resident acceptance and perception of the online portfolio.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of end-of-rotation global evaluations before and after portfolio implementation.
• Resident surveys to assess system acceptance and perceived usefulness.
• Statistical analysis of performance data and survey responses.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in practice-based learning and improvement (P = 0.002).
• Positive resident feedback: 95% understood its purpose, 87% found it a useful educational tool.
• While many appreciated organizational aspects, fewer than half directly linked portfolio use to competency development.

Conclusions:

• The web-based portfolio system is a valuable educational instrument for residents and administrators.
• Early findings indicate a positive impact on resident competencies and high acceptance rates.
• The system holds potential for fostering self-directed learning and career development.