A National Needs Assessment in Simulation Based Training in Vascular Surgery

Area of Science:

• Vascular surgery training and simulation development.

Background:

• Vascular simulation is crucial for surgical training.
• Identifying high-need areas ensures training impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and prioritize areas of highest need for vascular simulation training.
• To inform the development of effective vascular simulation curricula.

Main Methods:

• A Delphi method needs assessment was conducted with 33 consultant vascular surgeons/trainers.
• Three rounds of procedure prioritization were scored using the Copenhagen Needs Assessment Formula (CAMES-NAF).

Main Results:

• 34 vascular procedures were prioritized, with arterial repair and endarterectomy/patching ranked highest.
• Complex procedures like open AAA repair, carotid endarterectomy, and EVAR ranked higher than rarer or basic ones.
• Disagreements occurred for specific procedures, indicating nuanced training needs.

Conclusions:

• Vascular simulation training should focus on core principles and common major procedures.
• Simulation design should prioritize common procedures and complication management.
• Lower limb amputations are less suitable for current simulator models, with clinical practice or cadaveric models being more appropriate.