Improving resident confidence with a low-cost interventional spine course.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pain Medicine
• Spine Procedures

Background:

• Hands-on procedure training is crucial for interventional pain medicine residents.
• Training opportunities can be inconsistent across residency programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess changes in resident competence after a new, affordable interventional spine course.
• To determine how training duration impacts competence changes over time.

Main Methods:

• Residents completed pre- and post-course surveys on confidence, knowledge, and skills.
• The study evaluated changes related to interventional spine procedures.

Main Results:

• Participants showed improved confidence in procedure setup and complication management.
• Junior residents demonstrated greater improvement in pre-procedure reviews and complication handling.
• Resident feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

Conclusions:

• A cost-effective interventional spine course effectively enhances resident confidence and skills.
• This course is a practical solution for improving procedural competency in pain medicine.