Colorectal surgeons' learning curve of transanal endoscopic microsurgery.

Background: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a technically demanding key technique in minimally invasive rectal surgery. We investigated the learning curve of colorectal surgeons commencing with TEM.

Methods: All TEM procedures of four colorectal surgeons were analyzed.

Effects on incident reporting after educating residents in patient safety: a controlled study.

Background: Medical residents are key figures in delivering health care and an important target group for patient safety education. Reporting incidents is an important patient safety domain, as awareness of vulnerabilities could be a starting point for improvements. This study examined effects of patient safety education for residents on knowledge, skills, attitudes, intentions and behavior concerning incident reporting.

A patient safety curriculum for medical residents based on the perspectives of residents and supervisors.

Objectives: To develop a patient safety course for medical residents based on the views of medical residents and their supervisors.

Methods: In 2007, questionnaires were distributed to investigate residents' and supervisors' perspectives on the current patient safety performance and educational needs of residents. These perspectives were categorized according to the factors that influence daily practice as described in the London Protocol.

Residents' intentions and actions after patient safety education.

Background: Medical residents are key figures in delivering care and an important target group for patient safety education. The objective of this study was to assess residents' intentions and actions concerning patient safety improvement after patient safety education.

Methods: Four multi-specialty 2-day patient safety courses were organized, in which residents from five Dutch hospitals participated.

Do specialty registrars change their attitudes, intentions and behaviour towards reporting incidents following a patient safety course?

Background: Reporting incidents can contribute to safer health care, as an awareness of the weaknesses of a system could be considered as a starting point for improvements. It is believed that patient safety education for specialty registrars could improve their attitudes, intentions and behaviour towards incident reporting. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a two-day patient safety course on the attitudes, intentions and behaviour concerning the voluntary reporting of incidents by specialty registrars.

Waiting for elective general surgery: physical, psychological and social consequences.

Background: Long surgical waiting lists are common and receive serious consideration. To evaluate the positive and negative effects of waiting lists, insight into the consequences of waiting is needed. The present study aims to assess what insight the current literature provides into the effects of delayed surgery for varicose veins, inguinal hernia in adults, gallstones, and breast cancer in terms of physical, psychological and social aspects.