Medical student preparation for the operating room

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Healthcare Professions Education

Background:

• Student preparedness for the operating room (OR) is crucial for effective surgical training.
• Understanding student perceptions of preparation, resource utilization, and time investment is essential for curriculum development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess medical and physician assistant students' perceptions of their preparedness for the operating room (OR).
• To identify resources used and time spent by students in preparation for surgical cases.
• To evaluate the perceived benefits of preparation and identify areas for improvement in surgical education.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to third-year medical and second-year physician assistant students across two campuses.
• The survey assessed perceptions of preparedness, time spent preparing, resources utilized, and perceived benefits of preparation.
• Data from 95 student responses (49% response rate) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Students reported high preparedness for indications, contraindications, anatomy, and complications, but low preparedness for operative steps (31%).
• The average preparation time was 28 minutes per case, with UpToDate and online videos being the most frequently used resources.
• Only the use of an anatomic atlas showed a weak correlation with improved preparedness for discussing relevant anatomy; other factors were not significantly associated with preparedness.

Conclusions:

• Students generally feel prepared for the operating room (OR), but specific deficits, particularly in understanding operative steps, require attention.
• There is a clear preference for technology-based resources among students, aligning with modern learning preferences.
• Optimizing medical student education and resources for operating room (OR) preparation should consider student-identified deficits, technology preferences, and time constraints.