Journal of surgical education
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Global rating scales are commonly used to rate surgeons' skill level. However, these tools lack granularity required for specific skill feedback. Recently, an alternative framework has been developed that is designed to measure technical errors during laparoscopy. The purpose of the present study was to gather validity evidence for the Generic Error Rating Tool (GERT) in gynecologic laparoscopy. ⋯ GERT allows for objective and reproducible assessment of technical errors during gynecologic laparoscopy and could be used for performance analysis and personalized surgical education and training.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Coaching Non-technical Skills Improves Surgical Residents' Performance in a Simulated Operating Room.
To investigate the effect of coaching on non-technical skills and performance during laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a simulated operating room (OR). ⋯ Coaching improved residents' non-technical skills in the simulated OR compared with those in the control group. Important next steps are to implement non-technical skills coaching in the real OR and assess effect on clinically important process measures and patient outcomes.
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Surgical Baseball Cards: Improving Patient- and Family-Centered Care.
Busy surgical services with diverse team members and frequent handoffs create barriers to patient- and family-centered care. The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of cards containing team member names, roles, and photographs-"Surgical Baseball Cards" (SBCs)-would improve patient recognition of caregivers and whether this would improve patient satisfaction. ⋯ SBCs provide reasonable value by improving patient recognition of healthcare team members and understanding of team member roles, and they are associated with positive patient feedback regarding coordination of care and patient-centered care.
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Review of surgical complications in traditional morbidity and mortality (M&M) rounds remains an important mechanism to identify and discuss quality-of-care issues. This process relies on case selection by providers; therefore, complications identified for review may differ from those captured in comprehensive quality programs such as the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP). Additionally, although the ACS NSQIP captures robust data on complications in surgical wards, without strategies to disseminate this information to staff and improve practice, minimal change may result. The objective of this study was to compare complications identified by the ACS NSQIP with those captured in M&M conferences at a large Canadian academic hospital. ⋯ M&M rounds and the ACS NSQIP provide important and potentially complementary data on surgical quality. Incorporating the ACS NSQIP outcomes data into traditional M&M conferences may help to optimize quality improvement efforts.
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To assess the attitudes of residents and program directors (PDs) involved in flexible training to gauge satisfaction with this training paradigm and elicit limitations. ⋯ This survey of 9 residency programs participating in flexible tracks indicates satisfaction with this training option. The role of comprehensive general surgery as a training end point and scheduling difficulties remain as major challenges. Outcomes of graduates in these tracks and control peers are being prospectively evaluated.