Preparing medical students to enter surgery residencies

This study was designed to develop and evaluate an integrated cognitive and proficiency-based skills curriculum based on American College of Surgeons Graduate Medical Education Committee (ACGME) competencies to prepare students for surgery internships.

Course content included cadaver dissections, didactic sessions, team training, and training in clinical and technical skills. Using previously validated skills curricula (12 open and 5 Fundamental Laparoscopic Surgery [FLS] tasks), trainees underwent pretest, self-practice to proficiency, and post-test. Surveys regarding confidence levels and skills were administered.

Mean course evaluation score was 4.5 +/- .6 on a 5-point Likert scale. Trainees (n = 9) achieved proficiency on open tasks and FLS tasks 2-5. The mean confidence self-rating on 51 skills increased on a 5-point Likert scale from 2.4 +/- .6 to 4.0 +/- .6 (P < .001).

This integrated curriculum did improve confidence levels, and skills proficiency can be achieved in an abbreviated time. The anticipated result would be enhanced baseline abilities for internship.