What makes a good surgical experience for the naïve learner?

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Early clinical observerships play a key role in pre-clerkship education and career selection. Using a cross sectional survey design, we attempted to assess the makeup of the student's observership throughout their time in the operating room (OR). Perceived educational value (EV), utility in career exploration (CE), and level of personal enjoyment (PE) were assessed after every encounter and utilized as primary outcomes. Twenty-eight (28) 1st year medical students participating in an intensive 2-week surgical exploration program completed eight 34 question electronic surveys characterizing each of their 8 surgical observerships (224 events). One hundred forty six (65.2%) surveys were completed, each representing a day of observerships, with a total of 207 surgeries observed. Following multivariate linear regression analysis, increased surgical team engagement with the student and a positive tone of interaction were each significantly associated with improved EV (p1 = 0.013, p2 <0.001), CE (p1=0.006, p2=0.012), and PE (p1 <0.001, p2 <0.001). Surgical subspecialty, type of case and ability to scrub in were not associated with improved experiences. Increased engagement and positive interaction with the surgical team are significantly associated with various measures of improved surgical experience, and each are highly modifiable factors in a learner's OR experience. This research emphasizes the diverse educational responsibility of academic surgeons.