Resident Arthroscopy Simulation Curriculum Implementation and The Effect on Simulator Usage

Arthroscopy simulation has been shown to improve resident performance. Surgical simulation is desired by trainees and program directors; however, the simulator must be used regularly to receive maximal benefit. Unfortunately, in the absence of a formal recommended curriculum many trainees are not regularly utilizing these educational resources. The objective of this paper was to determine the change in arthroscopy simulator utilization following the implementation of an arthroscopy simulation curriculum for orthopedic surgery residents.

This was a multi-center retrospective cohort study in which an arthroscopic simulation curriculum was developed and then implemented in October 2023 as recommended learning at two orthopedic surgery residency programs (80 residents) to be completed during their sports rotations during their PGY1, PGY2, and PGY4 years. A third program without a formal curriculum was used as a control (26 residents). Prior to implementation simulator was available for self-directed learning. Following implementation, the simulator was still available at any time, but certain modules were recommended to be completed while on sports rotations. The simulator usage before and after implementation of the curriculum was compared using two-tailed t-tests of pooled data comparing the months where a curriculum was and was not recommended. Pooled data for the two programs with a curriculum was compared from before and after curriculum was implemented.

For the two programs that implemented the curriculum, there was an increase from 0.05 hours (3 min) per resident per month to 0.24 hours (14.4 min) per resident per month for a 4.7-fold increase.Across all three residency programs, implementation of a formal curriculum demonstrated an increase from 0.10 hours (6.25 min) per resident per month to 0.24 hours (14.4 min) per resident per month (p-value 0.0022). Overall, curriculum implementation was associated with a 2.3-fold increase in simulator use.

Having a formal curriculum that is recommended by orthopedic surgery residency programs increased simulator utilization by 2.34.7 times. Structured, recommended curricula may be necessary for residents to fully engage with simulation resources.

IV.