Neurosurgery Trainees' Perspectives of the 'Mock Viva'

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• The viva voce examination is a long-standing tradition in surgical training.
• It remains a critical component of the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) Examination for neurosurgery trainees.
• Understanding the educational value and participation barriers of mock viva voce examinations is crucial for optimizing training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the educational value of annual mock viva voce examinations as a formative assessment tool for neurosurgery trainees.
• To identify barriers hindering trainee participation in mock viva voce examinations.
• To explore strategies for increasing engagement with mock viva voce assessments.

Main Methods:

• A mixed deductive and inductive methodology was employed for study design and qualitative data analysis.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two cohorts of neurosurgical trainees (pre-FRCS and post-FRCS).
• Thematic analysis was used to identify overarching themes from coded qualitative data.

Main Results:

• Key educational benefits included gaining insight into examination format, standards, marking schemes, and examiner perspectives through high-fidelity simulation and feedback.
• Observing peer performances provided valuable comparative insights.
• Post-FRCS trainees highlighted learning from suboptimal performances and feedback, suggesting junior trainees underestimate the value of 'negative' experiences.

Conclusions:

• Mock viva voce examinations offer significant educational value, particularly in simulating the FRCS exam and providing performance feedback.
• Barriers to engagement, especially for junior trainees, relate to perceived stress and limited clinical experience, impacting their understanding of the learning potential.
• Targeted strategies are needed to enhance the perceived educational value and increase uptake of mock viva voce assessments among all neurosurgery trainees.