Teaching potential of interdisciplinary meetings on osteoarticular infections for orthopaedic residents: Insights from a French reference center (CRIOAC).

Objective: Management of osteoarticular infections (OAI) represents a major public health challenge. To deal with this, the French Ministry of Health created the (CRIOAC) in 2008. CRIOAC functions as a national network of reference centers for OAI, with the aim of coordinating, providing expertise, offering training, and conducting research at the regional level. Through multidisciplinary team meetings (MTM-CRIOAC), experts discuss complex OAI cases and formulate optimal treatment decisions. This study aims to evaluate the perception of the teaching potential of MTM-CRIOAC among orthopedic residents and identify potential areas for improvement.

Methods: To conduct this cross-sectional study a validated questionnaire was distributed to orthopedic residents who participated in said meetings to evaluate their perceptions and benefit. Opinions were then collected using a Likert scale for further evaluation.

Results: Results showed that (75%) found MTM useful for training, and (71%) considered it appropriate for teaching. The majority (84%) reported acquiring valuable skills, with (78%) emphasizing knowledge about complex osteoarticular infections. Residents recommended integrating more classes, active engagement, and thorough case summaries for improvement. Notably, 94% recommended MTM participation for colleagues. The study highlights MTMs' potential in medical education, enhancing clinical skills and collaborative healthcare practices among orthopedic residents.

Conclusion: Previous studies have shown that MTM-CRIOACs have improved patient outcomes. However, the literature has not yet addressed the potential teaching opportunities that MTM-CRIOACs could provide to residents. The study shows that these meetings offer grounds for teaching, enrichment of clinical judgment, professionalism, and collaborative skills of orthopedic residents.