[Digitalization in surgical training : Status quo, opportunities and challenges]

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Health
• Surgical Training

Context:

• Digital transformation is reshaping medical education, particularly in surgical training.
• Previous digitalization efforts in surgical continuing education were deemed insufficient by physicians.
• Significant untapped potential exists for enhancing surgical training through digitalization.

Purpose:

• To assess physicians' perceptions of digitalization's availability, implementation, opportunities, and barriers in German surgical continuing education.
• To understand the current status and future potential of digital tools in surgical training.

Summary:

• A survey of 313 physicians in surgical training in Germany revealed a strong belief in digitalization's potential to enhance training and work-life balance.
• While digital training programs, apps, and online databases are regularly used, digital training logbooks are underutilized.
• Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are recognized for their value but are scarcely used in current practice.

Impact:

• Highlights the need for improved integration of digital solutions like training logbooks in surgical education.
• Emphasizes the necessity of a comprehensive digital transformation in surgery to boost clinical efficiency and training quality.
• Calls for urgent expansion of digital infrastructure in hospitals and integration of digital tools into continuing education programs.