Using Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment to Develop a Patient Safety Curriculum for Surgical Residents

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Safety
• Surgical Training

Background:

• Patient safety is a critical component of surgical residency training.
• Developing effective curricula requires understanding resident perspectives and attitudes.
• Previous curricula may not adequately address attitudinal barriers to safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a patient safety curriculum for surgical residents.
• To utilize both qualitative and quantitative methods for curriculum design.
• To assess the impact of the curriculum on resident attitudes and perceptions.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving general surgery residents (postgraduate years 1-5) at a tertiary academic medical center.
• Utilized surveys and focus groups before and after curriculum implementation.
• Employed both qualitative and quantitative analysis to inform curriculum development and evaluation.

Main Results:

• Qualitative analysis identified specific areas needing attention, shaping the curriculum's content.
• Post-curriculum qualitative analysis revealed improved resident attitudes and normative beliefs regarding patient safety.
• Significant improvements were noted in residents' approaches to quality improvement and teamwork.
• Quantitative survey analysis did not reveal significant changes in resident perception of the safety environment during the study period.

Conclusions:

• Qualitative analysis is effective in uncovering attitudinal barriers to patient safety.
• Tailoring curricula based on qualitative insights enhances relevance and content for surgical residents.
• The developed curriculum positively influenced resident attitudes towards key safety principles.