Cara A. Liebert

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. Pretest and post-test performance, end-of-clerkship surveys, and National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) scores were analyzed to assess effectiveness. RESULTS Mean pretest and post-test scores increased across all modules (P < .001). There was no difference between mean NBME examination score in the prospective and historical cohorts (74.75 vs 75.74, P = .28). Mean ratings of career interest in surgery increased after curriculum completion (4.75 to 6.50, P < .001), with 90% reporting that the flipped classroom contributed to this increase. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of a flipped classroom in the surgery clerkship is feasible and results in high learner satisfaction, effective knowledge acquisition, and increased career interest in surgery with noninferior NBME performance.

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. METHODS Forty-nine subjects stratified into 4 levels of expertise were recruited to play SICKO. Later, players were surveyed regarding the realism of the gaming platform as well as the clinical competencies required of them while playing SICKO. RESULTS Each group of increasing expertise outperformed the less experienced groups. Mean total game scores for the novice, junior resident, senior resident, and expert groups were 5,461, 8,519, 11,404, and 13,913, respectively (P = .001). Survey results revealed high scores for realism and content. CONCLUSIONS SICKO holds the potential to be not only an engaging and immersive educational tool, but also a valid assessment in the armamentarium of surgical educators.

Promoting Balance in the Lives of Resident Physicians: A Call to Action

As physicians, we spend a significant amount of time counseling our patients on how to live healthier lives. Ironically, as trainees and practicing physicians, we often do not prioritize our own physical and psychological health. Most residents go to work despite significant physical impairment and severe anxiety.1 Compared with population controls, residents are more likely to experience burnoutandexhibitsymptomsofdepression.2 Theseproblems persist into practice; a recent national survey3 found that 40% of surgeons were burnt out and that 30% had symptoms of depression. Another study4 reported that 6% of surgeons experienced suicidal ideation in the preceding 12 months. Perhaps most startling, there are roughly 300 to 400 physicians who die by suicide per year—the equivalent of 3 medical school graduating classes.5 Against the backdrop of compelling data suggesting the need for interventions to promote wellness, our general surgery training program suffered the tragic suicide of one of our recent graduates in November 2010. After mourning his loss only 5 months after having left Stanford, our residency program took decisive action to create a multifaceted program aimed at enhancing resident wellness. Our goals were to create a program to help residents cope with daily stress, provide tools to manage challenges after completing residency, and reduce the risk of burnout, depression, and suicide. We first formed a committee consisting of residents and faculty. Through several meetings over the course of 4 months, we arrived at the structure of a Balance in Life program, now in its fourth year of implementation. Others, faced with similar challenges, have created educational mental health lectureships.6 Our comprehensive curriculum strives to promote worklife balance despite the inherent stressors of surgical training. As outlined here, the program is divided into 4 domains of well-being: professional, physical, psychological, and social.

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. User feedback was collected by electronic survey. Results. The experimental group spent 90% less time looking away from the procedural field to view traditional monitors during bronchoscopy (P = .003), and recognized critical desaturation 8.8 seconds earlier; the experimental group spent 71% (P = .01) less time looking away from the procedural field during thoracostomy, and recognized hypotension 10.5 seconds earlier. Trends toward earlier recognition of deterioration did not reach statistical significance. The majority of participants agreed that Google Glass increases situational awareness (64%), is helpful in monitoring vitals (86%), is easy to use (93%), and has potential to improve patient safety (85%). Conclusion. In this early feasibility study, use of streaming to Google Glass significantly decreased time looking away from procedural fields and resulted in a nonsignificant trend toward earlier recognition of vital sign deterioration. Vital sign streaming with Google Glass or similar platforms is feasible and may enhance procedural situational awareness.

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. Counts and types of mistreatment were compared from a year before (January–December 2013) and two years after (January 2014–December 2015) implementation. Students’ end-of-clerkship ratings and responses to open-ended questions were analyzed. Results From March 2014–December 2015, 141/164 (86%) students completed ratings, and all 47 (100%) students enrolled from January–August 2014 provided qualitative program evaluations. Most students rated the initial (108/141 [77%]) and final (120/141 [85%]) sessions as excellent or outstanding. In the qualitative analysis, students valued that the program helped establish expectations; allowed for sharing experiences; provided formal resources; and provided a supportive environment. Students felt the learning environment and culture were improved and reported increased interest in surgery. There were 14 mistreatment reports the year before the program, 9 in the program’s first year, and 4 in the second year. Conclusions The authors found a rotation-specific mistreatment program, focused on creating shared understanding about mistreatment, was well received among surgery clerkship students, and the number of mistreatment reports decreased each year following implementation.

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. DESIGN Surgical residents were invited to participate in an online survey containing measures of social belonging (a 10-item scale adapted from previous studies), well-being (the Dupuy Psychological General Well-Being Scale, Beck Depression Inventory Short Form, and Maslach Burnout Inventory), and risk of attrition (indicated by frequency of thoughts of leaving the program). SETTING We surveyed residents at 2 tertiary care centers, Stanford Health Care (2010, 2011, and 2015) and Washington University in St. Louis (2017). PARTICIPANTS Categorical general surgery residents, designated preliminary residents going into 7 surgical subspecialties, and nondesignated preliminary residents were included. RESULTS One hundred sixty-nine residents responded to the survey for a response rate of 66%. Belonging was positively correlated with general psychological well-being (r = 0.56, p < 0.0001) and negatively correlated with depression (r = -0.57, p < 0.0001), emotional exhaustion (r = -0.58, p < 0.0001), and depersonalization (r = -0.36, p < 0.0001). Further, belonging was negatively correlated with frequency of thoughts of leaving residency (r = -0.45, p < 0.0001). In regression analysis controlling for demographic variables, belonging was a significant positive predictor of psychological well-being (B = 0.95, t = 8.18, p < 0.0001) and a significant negative predictor of thoughts of leaving (B = -1.04, t = -5.44, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Social belonging has a significant positive correlation with well-being and negative correlation with thoughts of leaving surgical training. Lack of social belonging appears to be a significant predictor of risk of attrition in surgical residency. Efforts to enhance social belonging may protect against resident attrition.