The Pivotal Role of Coaching in Surgical Residency: A Scoping Review

Coaching is commonly used in sports and business to direct individuals toward a defined goal. Over the past decade, coaching has gained traction in medicine. Specifically, within surgical residencies, various coaching programs have been implemented, resulting in a breadth of outcomes. This study examines and synthesizes how coaching has been implemented and evaluated in surgical residency.

A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines using variations of the search terms "coach" and "surgical residents" in four databases: Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Relevant studies were published between 2012 and 2024. Only primary studies that evaluated coaching as an intervention for surgical residents were eligible for inclusion. The authors initially screened publications based on their titles and abstracts for relevance. A full-text review of included studies was conducted to identify articles reporting coaching, evaluation, and reliable outcomes data in surgical residency.

Thirty papers were included in this scoping review. Based on a predefined framework, studies were categorized as nontechnical (10) or technical coaching (23). Nontechnical skills coaching enhanced resilience, well-being, professional fulfillment, goal setting, and self-confidence. Technical coaching was associated with improved operative performance, procedural efficacy, and resident confidence, with multiple studies reporting gains in validated technical skills assessment tools. Video-based coaching was specifically associated with greater volume and clarity of teaching points and improved nontechnical skills such as decision-making.

Coaching for surgical residents, implemented through nontechnical skill and operative coaching methods, enhances nontechnical skills such as communication and resilience, supports professional growth and resident well-being, and improves technical performance.