Correlation of Performance on the ENTRUST Assessment Platform With Other Variables in Competency-Based Surgical Education.

Objective: With the implementation of American Board of Surgery (ABS) Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), there is continued need for objective, evidence-based assessment tools to augment existing microassessments and inform readiness for entrustment. The ENTRUST Assessment Platform is an online virtual-patient simulation platform to assess trainees' surgical decision-making competence across preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of care. This study collects additional validity evidence for the ENTRUST platform in its relationship to other established variables in competency-based surgical education.

Resident-Applicant Buddy Program Increases Applicant Interest and Program Transparency.

Objective: Resident-Applicant Buddy Programs (RABPs) are a new initiative designed to improve resident recruitment. This study aims to evaluate the impact and perceived value of RABPs and to identify areas for improvement for future recruitment cycles.

Design: Anonymous online survey study of RABP participants with mixed-methods approach to evaluate participants' experience and perceived impact of the program.

Usability of ENTRUST as an Assessment Tool for Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs): A Mixed Methods Analysis.

Objective: As the American Board of Surgery transitions to a competency-based model of surgical education centered upon entrustable professional activities (EPAs), there is a growing need for objective tools to determine readiness for entrustment. This study evaluates the usability of ENTRUST, an innovative virtual patient simulation platform to assess surgical trainees' decision-making skills in preoperative, intra-operative, and post-operative settings.

Design: This is a mixed-methods analysis of the usability of the ENTRUST platform.

Correlation of Performance on ENTRUST and Traditional Oral Objective Structured Clinical Examination for High-Stakes Assessment in the College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa.

Background: To address the global need for accessible evidence-based tools for competency-based education, we developed ENTRUST, an innovative online virtual patient simulation platform to author and securely deploy case scenarios to assess surgical decision-making competence.

Study Design: In partnership with the College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa, ENTRUST was piloted during the Membership of the College of Surgeons (MCS) 2021 examination. Examinees (n = 110) completed the traditional 11-station oral objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), followed by 3 ENTRUST cases, authored to query similar clinical content of 3 corresponding OSCE cases.

ENTRUST: A Serious Game-Based Virtual Patient Platform to Assess Entrustable Professional Activities in Graduate Medical Education.

Background: As entrustable professional activities (EPAs) are implemented in graduate medical education, there is a great need for tools to efficiently and objectively evaluate clinical competence. Readiness for entrustment in surgery requires not only assessment of technical ability, but also the critical skill of clinical decision-making.

Objective: We report the development of ENTRUST, a serious game-based, virtual patient case creation and simulation platform to assess trainees' decision-making competence.

Using AI and computer vision to analyze technical proficiency in robotic surgery.

Background: Intraoperative skills assessment is time-consuming and subjective; an efficient and objective computer vision-based approach for feedback is desired. In this work, we aim to design and validate an interpretable automated method to evaluate technical proficiency using colorectal robotic surgery videos with artificial intelligence.

Methods: 92 curated clips of peritoneal closure were characterized by both board-certified surgeons and a computer vision AI algorithm to compare the measures of surgical skill.

Complete Telehealth for Multidisciplinary Preoperative Workup Does Not Delay Time to Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: a Pilot Study.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated implementation of telehealth throughout the US healthcare system. At our institution, we converted a fully integrated multidisciplinary bariatric clinic from face-to-face visits to entirely telehealth video/telephone visits. We hypothesized telehealth would increase the number of provider/patient encounters and therefore delay time to surgery.

Preventive Health Screening in Veterans Undergoing Bariatric Surgery.

Introduction: Individuals with obesity are vulnerable to low rates of preventive health screening. Veterans with obesity seeking bariatric surgery are also hypothesized to have gaps in preventive health screening. Evaluation in a multidisciplinary bariatric surgery clinic is a point of interaction with the healthcare system that could facilitate improvements in screening.

Validity Evidence for ENTRUST as an Assessment of Surgical Decision-Making for the Inguinal Hernia Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA).

Objective: As the American Board of Surgery (ABS) moves toward implementation of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), there is a growing need for objective evaluation of readiness for entrustment of residents. This requires not only assessment of technical skills and knowledge, but also surgical decision-making in preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative settings. We developed and piloted an Inguinal Hernia EPA Assessment on ENTRUST, a serious game-based online virtual patient simulation platform to assess trainees' decision-making competence.

A protected time policy to improve dental health among resident physicians.

Background: Resident physicians underuse preventive dental health services. The authors assessed the barriers to and need for oral health care among residents and piloted a program to enhance dental health care among house staff.

Methods: Participants from 5 residency programs received 2 hours of protected time during business hours for visits to a nearby dental office.

Social Belonging as a Predictor of Surgical Resident Well-being and Attrition.

Objective: In light of the predicted shortage of surgeons, attrition from surgical residency is a significant problem. Prior data have shown that those who are happier are more productive, and those who are less well have higher rates of absenteeism. This study sought to identify the role of social belonging and its relationship to well-being and risk of attrition.

A Mixed-Methods Analysis of a Novel Mistreatment Program for the Surgery Core Clerkship.

Purpose: To review mistreatment reports from before and after implementation of a mistreatment program, and student ratings of and qualitative responses to the program to evaluate the short-term impact on students.

Method: In January 2014, a video- and discussion-based mistreatment program was implemented for the surgery clerkship at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The program aims to help students establish expectations for the learning environment; create a shared and personal definition of mistreatment; and promote advocacy and empower ment to address mistreatment.

Grit as a predictor of risk of attrition in surgical residency.

Background: Grit, a measure of perseverance, has been shown to predict resident well-being. In this study we assess the relationship between grit and attrition.

Methods: We collected survey data from residents in a single institution over two consecutive years.

A Narrative Review and Novel Framework for Application of Team-Based Learning in Graduate Medical Education.

Background: Team-based learning (TBL) promotes problem solving and teamwork, and has been applied as an instructional method in undergraduate medical education with purported benefits. Although TBL curricula have been implemented for residents, no published systematic reviews or guidelines exist for the development and use of TBL in graduate medical education (GME).

Objective: To review TBL curricula in GME, identify gaps in the literature, and synthesize a framework to guide the development of TBL curricula at the GME level.

Student perceptions of a simulation-based flipped classroom for the surgery clerkship: A mixed-methods study.

Background: The flipped classroom, a blended learning paradigm that uses pre-session online videos reinforced with interactive sessions, has been proposed as an alternative to traditional lectures. This article investigates medical students' perceptions of a simulation-based, flipped classroom for the surgery clerkship and suggests best practices for implementation in this setting.

Methods: A prospective cohort of students (n = 89), who were enrolled in the surgery clerkship during a 1-year period, was taught via a simulation-based, flipped classroom approach.

Emotional Intelligence as a Predictor of Resident Well-Being.

Background: There is increasing recognition that physician wellness is critical; it not only benefits the provider, but also influences quality and patient care outcomes. Despite this, resident physicians suffer from a high rate of burnout and personal distress. Individuals with higher emotional intelligence (EI) are thought to perceive, process, and regulate emotions more effectively, which can lead to enhanced well-being and less emotional disturbance.

Novel Use of Google Glass for Procedural Wireless Vital Sign Monitoring.

Purpose This study investigates the feasibility and potential utility of head-mounted displays for real-time wireless vital sign monitoring during surgical procedures. Methods In this randomized controlled pilot study, surgery residents (n = 14) performed simulated bedside procedures with traditional vital sign monitors and were randomized to addition of vital sign streaming to Google Glass. Time to recognition of preprogrammed vital sign deterioration and frequency of traditional monitor use was recorded.

Effectiveness of the Surgery Core Clerkship Flipped Classroom: a prospective cohort trial.

Background: The flipped classroom has been proposed as an alternative curricular approach to traditional didactic lectures but has not been previously applied to a surgery clerkship.

Methods: A 1-year prospective cohort of students (n = 89) enrolled in the surgery clerkship was taught using a flipped classroom approach. A historical cohort of students (n = 92) taught with a traditional lecture curriculum was used for comparison.

Validity evidence for Surgical Improvement of Clinical Knowledge Ops: a novel gaming platform to assess surgical decision making.

Background: Current surgical education curricula focus mainly on the acquisition of technical skill rather than clinical and operative judgment. SICKO (Surgical Improvement of Clinical Knowledge Ops) is a novel gaming platform developed to address this critical need. A pilot study was performed to collect validity evidence for SICKO as an assessment for surgical decision making.