Comparing Operative Performance between Independent and Integrated Plastic Surgery Residents.

Background: Anecdotally, faculty report that independent residents' operative skills differ from those of their integrated peers. This study compared operative competency between integrated (postgraduate years 4 to 6) and independent plastic surgery residents.

Methods: The authors compared independent (postgraduate years 1 to 3) and integrated (postgraduate years 4 to 6) plastic surgery residents at their institution using operative performance data from the Operative Entrustability Assessment, a validated five-point assessment tool that provides residents with real-time feedback about their operative performance, documenting performance at the point of care.

Patient-Related Risk Factors for Worsened Abdominal Well-Being after Autologous Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Patient-reported lower satisfaction with the abdomen preoperatively is a strong predictor of undergoing DIEP flap surgery. The authors evaluated physical well-being of the abdomen before and after flap-based breast reconstruction to determine potential predictors for decreased postoperative abdominal well-being.

Methods: The authors retrospectively analyzed an institutional breast reconstruction registry, selecting patients who underwent abdominally based autologous flap breast reconstruction from 2010 to 2015.

The reliability of operative rating tool evaluations: How late is too late to provide operative performance feedback?

Background: Operative rating tools can enhance performance assessment in surgical training. However, assessments completed late may have questionable reliability. We evaluated the reliability of assessments according to evaluation time-to-completion.

Understanding Surgical Resident and Fellow Perspectives on Their Operative Performance Feedback Needs: A Qualitative Study.

Objective: Operative performance feedback is essential for surgical training. We aimed to understand surgical trainees' views on their operative performance feedback needs and to characterize feedback to elucidate factors affecting its value from the resident perspective.

Design: Using a qualitative research approach, 2 research fellows conducted semistructured, one-on-one interviews with surgical trainees.