Training robotic community surgeons: our experience implementing a robotics curriculum at a rural community general...

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Medical Technology Adoption

Background:

• Robotic-assisted surgery is expanding into rural and community general surgery settings.
• General surgery residency programs are increasingly incorporating robotic surgery training.
• There is a growing need to evaluate the effectiveness of such training in non-tertiary care environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation and outcomes of a voluntary robotic surgery curriculum in a rural general surgery residency program.
• To assess resident participation rates and satisfaction with the robotic surgery training.
• To evaluate the perceived impact of the curriculum on residents' overall training.

Main Methods:

• A voluntary, structured curriculum including online, bedside, and console simulation training was instituted.
• The curriculum involved bedside assisting and operating the robotic console.
• Resident feedback was collected via a survey evaluating satisfaction and perceived impact.

Main Results:

• 14 out of 15 residents participated in the voluntary curriculum.
• 91.7% of respondents felt the curriculum did not negatively impact their training.
• All respondents were satisfied with the curriculum, with 58.4% finding their participation level appropriate.

Conclusions:

• A voluntary robotic surgery curriculum can be effectively integrated into a rural general surgery residency program.
• High resident participation and satisfaction indicate the feasibility and value of such programs.
• This model demonstrates successful adoption of robotic surgery training in community settings.