Surgical endoscopy education research: how are we doing?

Background: Surgical endoscopy (SE), the official journal of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons and the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery, is an important source of new evidence pertaining to surgical education in the field. However, qualitative deficiencies in medical education research have prompted medical education leaders to advocate for increased methodological rigor. The purpose of this study is to review the quality of education-focused research published through SE.

A Competency-based Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Curriculum Significantly Improves General Surgery Residents' Operative Performance and Decreases Skill Variability: Cohort Study.

Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility of implementing a CBE curriculum within a general surgery residency program and to evaluate its effectiveness in improving resident skill.

Summary Of Background Data: Operative skill variability affects residents and practicing surgeons and directly impacts patient outcomes. CBE can decrease this variability by ensuring uniform skill acquisition.

Stress and resident interdisciplinary team performance: Results of a pilot trauma simulation program.

Background: Excessive stress negatively impacts surgical residents' technical performance. The effect of stress on trainee nontechnical skills, however, is less well studied. Given that nontechnical skills are known to impact clinical performance, the purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between residents' perceived stress and nontechnical skills during multidisciplinary trauma simulations.

Multidisciplinary simulation-based trauma team training with an emphasis on crisis resource management improves residents' non-technical skills.

Background: Non-technical skills impact trauma resuscitation time. Crisis resource management teaches non-technical skills required for effective teamwork in a crisis. We developed a simulation-based multidisciplinary trauma team training, with an emphasis on crisis resource management and a goal of improving residents' non-technical skills.

A Generalizable Multimodal Scrub Training Curriculum in Surgical Sterile Technique.

Introduction: Recent endeavors from governing bodies such as the AAMC have formally recognized the importance of aseptic technique. AAMC guidelines include activities that all graduating physicians should be able to perform with minimum indirect supervision and were developed to recognize these needs. For example, the skills necessary for aseptic technique include daily safety habits and general physician procedures.

Expert Consensus Recommendations for Robotic Surgery Credentialing.

Objective: To define criteria for robotic credentialing using expert consensus.

Background: A recent review of institutional robotic credentialing policies identified significant variability and determined current policies are largely inadequate to ensure surgeon proficiency and may threaten patient safety.

Methods: Twenty-eight national robotic surgery experts were invited to participate in a consensus conference.

How resilient is your team? Exploring healthcare providers' well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic has placed tremendous physical and mental strain on the US healthcare system. Studies examining the effects of outbreaks have demonstrated both an increased prevalence and long-term development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms in healthcare providers. We sought to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of medical providers, medical trainees, and administrators at a large academic center to identify stressors and moderators to guide future mental health and hospital-system interventions.

Why the Lab? What is Really Motivating General Surgery Residents to Take Time for Dedicated Research.

Objective: Over one third of general surgery residents interrupt their clinical training to pursue dedicated research time (DRT), which has financial implications for programs and residents. Studies have examined the impact of DRT on academic outcomes, but little is known about why residents pursue DRT. Therefore, this study aimed to examine resident motivations regarding DRT in order to gain an understanding of resident goals and challenges surrounding this phase of training.

Are current credentialing requirements for robotic surgery adequate to ensure surgeon proficiency?

Background: Robotic surgery has seen unprecedented growth, requiring hospitals to establish or update credentialing policies regarding this technology. Concerns about verification of robotic surgeon proficiency and the adequacy of current credentialing criteria to maintain patient safety have arisen. The aim of this project was to examine existing institutional credentialing requirements for robotic surgery and evaluate their adequacy in ensuring surgeon proficiency.

Teaching technical surgery.

Surgical educators face many challenges on the path toward ensuring surgical trainee technical-skill acquisition. We present effective intraoperative teaching techniques and discuss the utilization of simulation to improve technical skills outside of the operating room. Adjuncts, including coaching, mental skills, and nontechnical-skill assessments, are also reviewed.

Development of a fundamentals of endoscopic surgery proficiency-based skills curriculum for general surgery residents.

Background: Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) has become a board certification requirement for general surgery residents. While the FES program provides a robust didactic curriculum, an endoscopic skills curriculum is lacking for this high stakes assessment. The aims of this study were to develop a proficiency-based endoscopic skills curriculum and assess its effectiveness on success in the FES exam.

UDP-galactopyranose mutase in nematodes.

Nematodes represent a diverse phylum of both free living and parasitic species. While the species Caenorhabditis elegans is a valuable model organism, parasitic nematodes or helminths pose a serious threat to human health. Indeed, helminths cause many neglected tropical diseases that afflict humans.