Measuring Impact of Simulation-Based Informed Consent Training on Surgical Intern's Long-Term Confidence

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Informed Consent

Background:

• Physician confidence in obtaining informed consent is crucial for patient care.
• Existing training programs may not adequately prepare surgical interns for this complex communication task.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term impact of a novel training program on surgical interns' confidence in obtaining informed consent.
• To assess attending physicians' confidence in interns' informed consent abilities post-intervention.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study involving general surgery interns.
• Training included didactics, standardized patient encounters, and procedure-specific guides.
• Confidence assessed via surveys for interns (trained vs. untrained) and attending physicians.

Main Results:

• Intern confidence in discussing benefits improved significantly (p=0.03).
• Overall intern confidence showed a positive trend (p=0.08).
• Interns reported high satisfaction (80-90%) with training components.

Conclusions:

• An intern-focused informed consent training program utilizing didactics and standardized patient encounters is perceived as valuable.
• This training may foster sustained improvements in physician confidence regarding informed consent processes.