Needs assessment of surgical skills of interns: a qualitative study in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia.

Introduction: Upon graduation, newly qualified doctors are expected to manage complex and unwell patients, and adapt their prior learning to navigate an often-nuanced healthcare workplace environment. Surgical rotations can bring a unique set of learning curves and challenges to this already demanding transitional period. The aim of this study was to identify the training needs of medical students and early-career doctors in surgical skills, incorporating viewpoints from all stakeholder groups to provide a holistic insight into the provision of surgical education currently, and how it can be optimized to improve work preparedness.

Emergency presentations of acute biliary pain: changing patterns of management in a tertiary institute.

Background: Acute biliary pain is the most common presentation of gallstone disease. Untreated patients risk recurrent pain, cholecystitis, obstructive jaundice, pancreatitis and multiple hospital presentations. We examine the outcome of implementing a policy to offer laparoscopic cholecystectomy on index presentation to patients with biliary colic in a tertiary hospital in Australia.