Perceptions of student-observers in the operating room

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Student observation in surgical procedures is a common practice.
• The study aimed to assess patient, physician, and operating room (OR) staff views on student observation during surgery.
• Opinions were evaluated across different academic training levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patient, physician, and OR staff perspectives on student observation during surgical procedures.
• To understand opinions regarding the importance of surgical observation for various academic levels.
• To explore views on preoperative patient notification and informed consent for student observers.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous online surveys were distributed to attending surgeons and OR staff.
• Patients undergoing elective surgery provided consent to participate in the survey.
• Institutional Review Board approval was obtained prior to study commencement.

Main Results:

• A majority of patients (97%), physicians (91%), and OR staff (71%) consider OR observational experience crucial for medical student training.
• Patients (92%) and OR staff (97%) found observational experience more important for nursing students than physicians (72%).
• Patients and OR staff were more inclined than physicians to believe patients should be informed preoperatively and provide consent for student observers.

Conclusions:

• All surveyed groups recognized the educational importance of student observation in surgery.
• Significant differences in opinion emerged based on the respondent group and the academic level of the student observer.
• OR staff opinions closely mirrored those of patients, highlighting a potential consensus on patient-centered concerns like informed consent.