Empowering future surgeons: a workshop bridging the gap between graduation and the operating room

Feedback from foundation trainees in Blackpool highlighted low levels of confidence with the prospect of surgical on-call shifts. Key areas of concern were assessing and managing the acute surgical patient, identifying which patients need an operation and having the technical skills to proficiently assist in theatre. This lack of confidence prevents trainees engaging in what should be an educational and rewarding rotation.

The authors designed and facilitated a day of workshops, addressing these key educational needs. Bespoke to the trust's services, lectures were delivered by core surgical trainees on the assessment and management of acute surgical patients in general surgery, urology and trauma and orthopaedics. For the development of technical skills, an afternoon of surgical skills workshops covered suturing, knot tying, laparoscopic principles and theatre etiquette. Small groups of foundation trainees rotated through each workshop, delivered by surgical registrars (ST3+), to ensure high fidelity training.

Pre- and post-course questionnaires assessed the efficacy of teaching. Out of a total of 72 foundation trainees, 55 attended the teaching day, of which 45 (81.8%) completed pre- and post-course surveys using a six-point modified Likert scale. Rates for satisfactory confidence levels while on-call improved from 66 to 100% of participants after the course. Suturing skills satisfaction rose from 37.5 to 100%, among other impact markers.

All trainees that attended the course displayed a marked improvement. This course is now being incorporated into foundation teaching programmes at a regional level and has scope to be expanded nationally.