Surgical endoscopy education research: how are we doing?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Research
• Surgical Education
• Endoscopic Surgery

Background:

• Surgical Endoscopy (SE) is a key journal for surgical education research.
• There is a recognized need for increased methodological rigor in medical education research.
• This study evaluates the quality of education-focused research published in SE.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and assess the quality of education-focused research published in Surgical Endoscopy (SE).
• To identify strengths and weaknesses in the methodological rigor of published studies.

Main Methods:

• A PubMed search identified education-related SE articles from 2010-2019.
• Seven raters assessed study quality using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI).
• Descriptive statistics and intraclass correlation were used for data analysis.

Main Results:

• 227 studies met inclusion criteria; 60% were international, 47% funded.
• Average MERSQI score was 12.5 (SD 2); most studies used non-random or cross-sectional designs.
• Few randomized controlled trials (16%) and patient-related outcomes (3%) were reported; high inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.93).

Conclusions:

• SE's peer review facilitates dissemination of moderate to good quality education research.
• Deficits exist in validity evidence, study designs, and outcome reporting.
• The journal's reach can be leveraged to promote higher quality education research.