Development of a program for teaching practical skills in visceral and digestive surgery by simulation

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training

Background:

• Practical training for advanced surgical residents in France was not standardized before 2013.
• The third cycle of medical studies was restructured in 2017, emphasizing academic knowledge, technical, and non-technical skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of a nationwide standardized practical training program for visceral and digestive surgery residents.
• To introduce the comprehensive training manual created for this program.

Main Methods:

• A national consensus panel under the French college of visceral and digestive surgery guided program development.
• Four consensus conference sessions drafted the "Resident's manual for practical teaching in visceral and digestive surgery."
• A review was conducted on the program's nationwide structuring and implementation as of November 2017.

Main Results:

• A structured, uniformized, and standardized nationwide practical training program using simulation outside the operating theater was established.
• A 272-page manual details training objectives, learning resources, and evaluation methods for resident training.
• The review assessed the program's nationwide structuring and implementation.

Conclusions:

• The new training program provides a standardized and comprehensive approach to preparing future visceral and digestive surgeons.
• The "Resident's manual" serves as a key reference document for structured surgical education.
• Nationwide implementation of the standardized program marks a significant advancement in surgical residency education in France.