Surgical Practical Skills Learning Curriculum: Implementation and Interns' Confidence Perceptions.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Residency Programs

Background:

• Surgical internships require a robust skill set beyond theoretical knowledge.
• Assessing and enhancing practical skills is crucial for resident development.
• A structured curriculum can address the multifaceted needs of surgical interns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a practical skills learning curriculum for general surgery interns.
• To assess the curriculum's impact on interns' self-perceived technical skills, patient management, administrative abilities, and knowledge.
• To track changes in these perceptions throughout the internship year.

Main Methods:

• An 84-hour practical skills curriculum (didactic, simulation, practical sessions) was implemented.
• Surveys assessed interns' perceptions at baseline, midpoint, and final points during the academic year.
• Session-specific feedback was collected to evaluate curriculum components.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in interns' perceptions of technical skills, patient management, administrative tasks, and knowledge (p < 0.001).
• These improvements were sustained from baseline to midpoint and midpoint to final evaluations (p < 0.001).
• Prior boot camp experience, intern type, and gender did not significantly alter baseline perceptions but did not impede curriculum benefits.

Conclusions:

• A practical skills curriculum effectively enhances surgical interns' confidence in their abilities.
• The curriculum positively impacts perceived competence in technical skills, patient management, and administrative tasks.
• This structured training is valuable for improving overall knowledge and readiness for surgical practice.