Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 21, 2025
Utilizing a 3D Printed Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication Model to Shorten a Resident's Learning Curve
Published on: August 15, 2025
Competency-based education in general surgery: Are Canadian residents ready?
Gabrielle Gauvin1, Kathryn Hay1, Wilma Hopman1
1From the Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, Ont. (Gauvin, Hay, Zevin, Jalink, Nanji); the Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ont. (Hopman); the Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man. (Hurton, Lim); and the Department of Surgery, CISSS de l'Outaouais, Gatineau, Que. (Gauvin).
Summary:
Competency-based education (CBE) is currently being implemented by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada across all residency programs. This shift away from time-based residency is proposed to be the answer to maximize training opportunity in the era of work hour restrictions and growing concerns regarding accountability in medical education. A Web-based survey was conducted to obtain feedback from Canadian general surgery residents on their experience and perception of competence within core procedures, as well as attitudes toward CBE. A total of 244 residents completed the survey. For most procedures, more than 50% of residents felt they could perform the procedure with no guidance after completing 11-30 cases. Generally, residents were welcoming of CBE; however, medium-sized programs reported some concerns regarding inadequate exposure to cases and risk of training less well-rounded surgeons. This is valuable resident feedback for programs to consider during the implementation process.
