What makes a good surgical experience for the naïve learner?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Student Observerships

Background:

• Early clinical observerships are crucial for pre-clerkship medical education and career choices.
• Understanding the factors influencing student experience in the operating room (OR) is essential for optimizing training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of student observerships in the OR on perceived educational value (EV), career exploration (CE), and personal enjoyment (PE).
• To identify modifiable factors within the OR environment that enhance the medical student experience.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey design was employed.
• First-year medical students (n=28) in a 2-week surgical program completed electronic surveys after each of their 8 surgical observerships.
• Surveys assessed perceived educational value, career exploration utility, and personal enjoyment, with 146 surveys completed (65.2% response rate) covering 207 observed surgeries.

Main Results:

• Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that increased surgical team engagement and a positive interaction tone were significantly associated with improved EV, CE, and PE.
• Specific factors like surgical subspecialty, case type, and the ability to scrub in did not show a significant association with improved student experiences.
• The findings highlight the impact of interpersonal dynamics on the overall learning environment.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced engagement and positive interactions with the surgical team are key modifiable factors for improving medical students' OR experiences.
• Academic surgeons share a significant educational responsibility in fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment for students.
• Interpersonal dynamics, rather than procedural or specialty factors, appear to be the primary drivers of positive student observership outcomes.