Learning Outcomes and Educational Effectiveness of Social Media as a Continuing Professional Development Intervention for Practicing Surgeons: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to assess the learning outcomes and educational effectiveness of social media as a continuing professional development intervention for surgeons in practice.

Background: Social media has the potential to improve global access to educational resources and collaborative networking. However, the learning outcomes and educational effectiveness of social media as a continuing professional development (CPD) intervention are yet to be summarized.

The Safety and Efficacy of Concurrent Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy during Minimally Invasive Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: A Systematic Review.

We conducted a systematic review to examine perioperative outcomes for adults undergoing minimally invasive Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) with and without concurrent cholecystectomy (CCE). We reviewed the literature using OVID MEDLINE(R), Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, and medRxiv and identified studies published between 1946 and May 2023. We identified a total of 2402 studies with 11 included in the final analysis (combined 149,356 patients).

A Scoping Review of the Literature on Entrustable Professional Activities in Surgery Residency Programs.

Objective: Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) are a crucial component of contemporary postgraduate medical education with many surgery residency programs having implemented EPAs as a competency assessment framework to assess and provide feedback on the performance of their residents. Despite broad implementation of EPAs, there is a paucity of evidence regarding the impact of EPAs on the learners and learning environments. A first step in improving understanding of the use and impact of EPAs is by mapping the rising number of EPA-related publications from the field of surgery.

Evaluating the Quality of Narrative Feedback for Entrustable Professional Activities in a Surgery Residency Program.

Objective: To assess the quality of narrative feedback given to surgical residents during the first 5 years of competency-based medical education implementation.

Background: Competency-based medical education requires ongoing formative assessments and feedback on learners' performance.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study using assessments of entrustable professional activities (EPAs) in the Surgical Foundations curriculum at Queen's University from 2017 to 2022.

Optimizing the consent process for emergent laparoscopic cholecystectomy using an interactive digital education platform: a randomized control trial.

Background: Informed consent is essential for any surgery. The use of digital education platforms (DEPs) can enhance patient understanding of the consent discussion and is a method to standardize the consent process in elective, ambulatory settings. The use of DEP as an adjunct to standard verbal consent (SVC) has not been studied in an acute care setting.

Medication Prescribing Errors on a Surgery Service - Addressing the Gap with a Curriculum for Surgery Residents: A Prospective Observational Study.

Objectives: Educational interventions with proven effectiveness to reduce medication prescribing errors are currently lacking. Our objective was to implement and assess the effectiveness of a curriculum to reduce medication prescribing errors on a surgery service.

Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study at a Canadian academic hospital without an electronic order entry system.

Educational Effectiveness of Telementoring as a Continuing Professional Development Intervention for Surgeons in Practice: A Systematic Review.

Objective: We performed a systematic review to determine the educational effectiveness of telementoring as a continuing professional development (CPD) intervention for surgeons in practice.

Background: Surgeons can mentor their peers in remote locations using videoconferencing communication, referred to as telementoring.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE and included studies assessing the educational effectiveness of telementoring interventions used by surgeons in practice.

What are essential laparoscopic skills these days? Results of the SAGES Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) Committee technical skills survey.

Introduction: The Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) program tests basic knowledge and skills required to perform laparoscopic surgery. Educational experiences in laparoscopic training and development of associated competencies have evolved since FLS inception, making it important to review the definition of fundamental laparoscopic skills. The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) assigned an FLS Technical Skills Working Group to characterize technical skills used in basic laparoscopic surgery in current practice contexts and their possible application to future FLS tests.

Simulation vs workplace-based assessment in resuscitation: a cross-specialty descriptive analysis and comparison.

Background: Simulation-based assessment can complement workplace-based assessment of rare or difficult to assess Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs). We aimed to compare the use of simulation-based assessment for resuscitation-focused EPAs in three postgraduate medical training programs and describe faculty perceptions of simulation-based assessment.

Methods: EPA assessment scores and setting (simulation or workplace) were extracted from 2017-2020 for internal medicine, emergency medicine, and surgical foundations residents at the transition to discipline and foundations of discipline stages.

Learning Outcomes and Educational Effectiveness of E-Learning as a Continuing Professional Development Intervention for Practicing Surgeons and Proceduralists: A Systematic Review.

Background: Electronic learning (e-Learning) has become a prevalent mode of delivering medical education. We aimed to determine the learning outcomes and educational effectiveness of e-Learning as a continuing professional development (CPD) intervention for practicing surgeons and proceduralists.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE databases and included studies reporting learning outcomes of e-learning CPD interventions for practicing surgeons and physicians performing technical procedures.

Using Administrative Data in Primary Care to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a Continuing Professional Development Program Focused on the Management of Patients Living With Obesity.

Introduction: There are guidelines for referral to medical and/or surgical weight loss interventions (MSWLI) in Ontario; however, only about one-third of eligible patients in our region are being referred for consideration of MSWLI.

Methods: A planning committee, including a registered dietician, psychiatrist, endocrinologist, bariatric surgeon, family physician, and educationalists, developed an interdisciplinary continuing professional development (CPD) program focused on practical approaches to the management of patients living with obesity. The Kirkpatrick model was used to evaluate the educational outcomes of the CPD program specifically focusing on Level-2, -3, and -4 outcomes based on self-reported questionnaire and health administrative data.

A Canadian survey of residency applicants' and interviewers' perceptions of the 2021 CaRMS R1 virtual interviews.

Background: All Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) R1 interviews were conducted virtually for the first time in 2021. We explored the facilitators, barriers, and implications of the virtual interview process for the CaRMS R1 match and provide recommendations for improvement.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey study of CaRMS R1 residency applicants and interviewers across Canada in 2021.

Exploring the Quality of Narrative Feedback Provided to Residents During Ambulatory Patient Care in Medicine and Surgery.

Objectives: The transition to competency-based medical education (CBME) has increased the volume of residents' assessment data; however, the quality of the narrative feedback is yet to be used as feedback-on-feedback for faculty. Our objectives were (1) to explore and compare the quality and content of narrative feedback provided to residents in medicine and surgery during ambulatory patient care and (2) to use the Deliberately Developmental Organization framework to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to improve quality of feedback within CBME.

Methods: We conducted a mixed convergent methods study with residents from the Departments of Surgery (DoS;  = 7) and Medicine (DoM;  = 9) at Queen's University.

Bariatric Surgery Performed at a Tertiary Care Hospital and an Ambulatory Hospital: A 5 Year Comparison of Outcomes, OR Efficiencies and Costs.

Purpose: To explore change in 30-day post-operative complications, operative times, operating room (OR) efficiencies for bariatric surgery performed at a tertiary care hospital (TH) and an ambulatory hospital with overnight stay (AH) within one hospital network over 5 years; and to compare perioperative costs at the TH and AH.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of existing data from a cohort of consecutive adult patients who underwent primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) between September 2016 and August 2021 at TH and AH.

Results: A total of 805 patients (762 LRYGB, 43 LSG) had surgery at AH, while 109 (92 LRYGB, 17 LSG) at TH.

Self-withdrawal from scheduled bariatric surgery: Qualitative study exploring patient and healthcare provider perspectives.

The objective of the study was to explore the experience of patients who self-withdrew from their scheduled bariatric surgery (BS) after completing the lengthy multidisciplinary assessment and optimization process, and to examine how these withdrawals affect healthcare providers (HCPs) in a Bariatric Centre of Excellence (BCoE). Interviews were conducted with patients who self-withdrew, within 1 month, from scheduled BS. Additionally, a focus group with HCPs from the same BCoE was completed.

Transitioning to virtual ambulatory care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study of faculty and resident physician perspectives.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a rapid shift from in-person to virtual care delivery for many medical specialties across Canada. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of resident physicians and faculty related to teaching, learning and assessment during ambulatory virtual care encounters within the competency-based medical education model.

Methods: In this qualitative phenomenological study, we recruited resident physicians (postgraduate year [PGY] 1-5 trainees) and faculty from the Departments of Surgery and Medicine at Queen's University, Ontario, via purposive sampling.

A Canadian survey of medical students and undergraduate deans on the management of patients living with obesity.

Background: With over 26% of Canadian adults living with obesity, undergraduate medical education (UGME) should prepare medical students to manage this chronic disease. It is currently unknown how the management of patients living with obesity is taught within UGME curricula in Canada. This study (1) examined the knowledge and self-reported competence of final-year medical students in managing patients living with obesity, and (2) explored how this topic is taught within UGME curricula in Canada.

Management of Complications After Bariatric Surgery: a Survey of Comfort and Educational Needs of General Surgeons in Ontario, Canada.

Purpose: Approximately 10% of patients develop complications after bariatric surgery. These patients often present to their local general surgeon rather than the hospital where the primary bariatric operation was performed. The objective of this study was to conduct a survey of general surgeons in Ontario, Canada, to explore their confidence and educational needs regarding management of surgical complications post-bariatric surgery.

Contraceptive counselling in 3 Canadian bariatric surgery clinics: a multicentre qualitative study of the experiences of patients and health care providers.

Background: Evidence suggests an increase in fertility and unintended pregnancy after bariatric surgery; contraceptive counselling, traditionally defined as a discussion of contraception options, is therefore an important facet of surgical planning. Our aim was to investigate patient experiences of contraceptive counselling, the attitudes of health care providers (HCPs) toward contraceptive counselling, and their perceptions of the facilitators and barriers to contraceptive counselling in bariatric surgery clinics.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using semistructured interviews with patients and HCPs at publicly funded Canadian bariatric surgery clinics from May 2018 to February 2019.

Factors influencing primary care provider referral for bariatric surgery: Systematic review.

Objective: To identify barriers to and facilitators of primary care provider (PCP) referral for bariatric surgery in patients with obesity.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases were searched and reference lists of included articles were screened to identify additional relevant articles. Two reviewers independently reviewed citations and full-text articles, and appraised the quality of the included articles using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Tool Qualitative Checklist and the Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies.

Safety and outcomes of performing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy at an ambulatory site of a tertiary care hospital in Ontario.

Background: In Ontario, bariatric surgery is publicly funded and is performed only in accredited tertiary care hospitals. The purpose of our study was to report on the safety and outcomes of performing bariatric surgery at an ambulatory site of a tertiary care hospital in southern Ontario.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all adult (age ≥ 18 yr) patients who underwent primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) at the ambulatory site of our tertiary care hospital between September 2016 and August 2018.