Multi-institutional Study of Otolaryngology Resident Intraoperative Experiences for Key Indicator Procedures

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Concerns exist regarding the adequacy of surgical training for current otolaryngology residents.
• The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has outlined 14 key indicator procedures (KIPs) for otolaryngology training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the surgical experiences of otolaryngology residents across five academic centers.
• To evaluate resident autonomy and performance during key indicator procedures (KIPs).

Main Methods:

• A prospective study was conducted across five otolaryngology training programs.
• Data were collected via a smartphone application from December 2019 to December 2020.
• Residents and faculty used validated scales to rate trainee autonomy and performance.

Main Results:

• A total of 2984 evaluations were logged by residents and attendings.
• Attending-rated resident autonomy and performance improved with training level.
• Senior residents demonstrated meaningful autonomy in 55% of KIPs, with lower rates for specific procedures like airway and stapedectomy.
• Performance ratings for senior residents met "practice-ready" or "exceptional" in 55% of cases, with variations by procedure.

Conclusions:

• Resident surgical autonomy and performance in otolaryngology vary significantly across key indicator procedures.
• Establishing nationwide benchmarks is crucial for setting educational goals for otolaryngology residency programs and trainees.