Purpose: To determine if a formalized Preoperative Gynecology conference curriculum will contribute to improved resident surgical skills and surgical patient care knowledge.
Background: Surgical competence is critical when training Ob/Gyn residents, to prepare them to enter the operating room and provide excellent surgical care after residency. Several challenges to training residents have been identified including duty hour restrictions which may reduce time in the OR, hands on experience and overall surgical volume. Advances in surgical technology including minimally invasive techniques have significantly reduced exposure to laparotomy, while simultaneously broadening the surgical skillset that must be mastered. No data currently exists to correlate formal surgical skills training or preoperative conference curriculum with performance on CREOG examination, specifically in the areas of procedures and perioperative care.
Methods: A structured curriculum was developed to complement a newly instituted monthly preoperative conference. This curriculum included both interactive educational lectures and surgical simulation. Residents were surveyed prior to and upon completion of this curriculum to identify their perception of the didactic component of their benign gynecology training. CREOG scores were compared between the year prior to and the year following implementation of this conference curriculum.
Results: Residents identified 19 areas within their gynecologic education in which they desired further training. Resident perception surveys revealed a 12.5% increase in those very satisfied, 8.33% increase in those satisfied, and 20.8% decrease in those dissatisfied with their didactic training in benign gynecology when comparing pre- and post-implementation surveys. Residents also reported a 25% increase in satisfaction, and a 29.17% decrease in those dissatisfied with their surgical skills training. Post-implementaion surveys identified appreciation and desire for increased simulation training. CREOG scores demonstrated a 12% (1 point) increase in program ‘average number correct’ in ‘Procedures and Perioperative Care’.
Discussions: A formal conference curriculum in perioperative gynecology may positively impact resident perception of training and has the potential to improve preoperative planning. However, curriculum design may benefit from more close alignment with CREOG educational objectives to see significant impact reflected in program performance on the annual CREOG examination. This may improve overall physician performance and patient care both in and beyond residency.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2021, Student, Resident, Faculty, Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, Practice-Based Learning & Improvement, GME, Assessment, Simulation, Lecture, Minimally Invasive Surgery, General Ob-Gyn,
Nykia Burke-Bray, MD, Memorial Health University Medical Center; Stephanie Tootle, MD
