Supplementary Educational Models in Canadian Neurosurgery Residency Programs

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery Education
• Surgical Training Innovations

Background:

• Work hour restrictions impact resident surgical education quality and hands-on experience.
• Traditional apprentice model requires revision with supplementary methods like laboratory and virtual reality (VR) simulations.
• Understanding the role of these methods in Canadian neurosurgery residency is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current use and perceived value of supplementary educational methods in Canadian neurosurgery residency.
• To identify barriers to implementing laboratory and VR simulations in surgical training.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to 14 Canadian neurosurgery program directors and 85 residents.
• The survey included 16 questions on perceptions, implementation, and barriers of supplementary educational models.
• Response rates were 57% for program directors and 44% for residents.

Main Results:

• Only 7 programs utilize laboratory teaching; 3 use VR simulation.
• Key barriers identified include resident availability, lack of resources, and cost.
• Both program directors and residents recognize the value of supplementary methods.

Conclusions:

• Work hour restrictions challenge the traditional surgical training model.
• Supplementary methods like lab and VR simulations are valuable but underutilized.
• Limited availability and resources hinder the widespread adoption of these innovative training tools.