Ethical Approaches in General Surgery Residency Training: A Blended Learning Module Trial

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Ethics
• Professional Development

Background:

• Ethical training is crucial for general surgery residents.
• Existing training methods may not adequately address complex ethical dilemmas.
• A need exists for innovative, effective surgical ethics education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a blended learning module for surgical ethics training.
• To evaluate the impact of this module on general surgery residents' knowledge.
• To assess participant satisfaction with the training.

Main Methods:

• A blended learning module combining online and face-to-face sessions was created.
• 14 key topics in surgical ethics were identified with learning objectives.
• Pre- and post-training exams (MCQ, T/F) assessed knowledge, and resident feedback was collected.

Main Results:

• Twenty general surgery residents participated in the study.
• A statistically significant improvement in post-training exam scores was observed (p<0.001).
• Resident feedback confirmed the training model's effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• A blended learning approach, integrating online content, face-to-face case discussions, and assessments, enhances surgical ethics proficiency.
• This module offers a valuable tool for improving ethical decision-making in surgical residency.
• Effective training in surgical ethics is achievable through innovative educational strategies.