Variations in competencies needed to complete surgical training

This study aimed to analyse the degree of relative variation in specialty-specific competencies required for certification of completion of training (CCT) by the UK Joint Committee on Surgical Training.

Regulatory body guidance relating to operative and non-operative surgical skill competencies required for CCT were analysed and compared.

Wide interspecialty variation was demonstrated in the required minimum number of logbook cases (median 1201 (range 60-2100)), indexed operations (13 (5-55)), procedure-based assessments (18 (7-60)), publications (2 (0-4)), communications to learned associations (0 (0-6)) and audits (4 (1-6)). Mandatory courses across multiple specialties included: Training the Trainers (10 of 10 specialties), Advanced Trauma Life Support (6 of 10), Good Clinical Practice (9 of 10) and Research Methodologies (8 of 10), although no common accord was evident.

Certification guidelines for completion of surgical training were inconsistent, with metrics related to minimum operative caseload and academic reach having wide variation.