Nicole Todd

Teaching Vaginal Surgery to Junior Residents: Initial Validation of 3 Novel Procedure-Specific Low-Fidelity Models

OBJECTIVE Competency-based surgical education relies on operative models to teach surgical skills within a curriculum. Low fidelity simulation has been shown to improve surgical performance. Our objectives were: to develop procedure-specific models to teach anterior repair (AR), posterior repair (PR), and vaginal hysterectomy (VH) to junior residents; to establish model reliability and validity. DESIGN Residents were randomized to control (no training) and intervention (model training) groups. They were filmed while performing a series of tasks. Experts were also filmed. Each video was scored by 2 blinded raters. SETTING Multicenter collaboration within the Western Society of Pelvic Medicine (Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton). Face and content validity were evaluated. A standard scoring tool was developed for performance evaluation. Interrater reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient. Cronbach α was calculated for internal consistency. Jonckheere-Terpstra test verified whether the scores increased with operator skill level. PARTICIPANTS A total of 14 junior gynecology residents, 2 urogynecology fellows, and 3 staff urogynecologists were rated by a total of 6 gynecologic surgeons who scored 42 videos each. RESULTS Experienced pelvic surgeons from 3 participating sites agreed the models captured essential elements of real surgical skills (face validity) and of the true procedures (content validity). Intraclass correlation coefficient was adequate (AR = 0.86, PR = 0.90, and VH = 0.87). Cronbach α for the total scores was adequate (AR = 0.85, PR = 0.8, and VH = 0.71). Performance score increased with operator skill level for all 3 procedures (AR, p = <0.001; PR, p = 0.008; and VH, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS Our low fidelity procedure-specific vaginal surgery models had adequate initial validity. Future research will investigate transferability of acquired skills to the operating room.

Canadian Contraception Consensus (Part 2 of 4) Abstract and Summary Statement

Abstract Objective To provide guidelines for health care providers on the use of contraceptive methods to prevent pregnancy and on the promotion of healthy sexuality. Outcomes Guidance for Canadian practitioners on overall effectiveness, mechanism of action, indications, contraindications, non-contraceptive benefits, side effects and risks, and initiation of cited contraceptive methods; family planning in the context of sexual health and general well-being; contraceptive counselling methods; and access to, and availability of, cited contraceptive methods in Canada. Evidence Published literature was retrieved through searches of Medline and The Cochrane Database from January 1994 to January 2015 using appropriate controlled vocabulary (e.g., contraception, sexuality, sexual health) and key words (e.g., contraception, family planning, hormonal contraception, emergency contraception). Results were restricted to systematic reviews, randomized control trials/controlled clinical trials, and observational studies published in English from January 1994 to January 2015. Searches were updated on a regular basis and incorporated in the guideline to June 2015. Grey (unpublished) literature was identified through searching the websites of health technology assessment and health technology-related agencies, clinical practice guideline collections, clinical trial registries, and national and international medical specialty societies. Values The quality of the evidence in this document was rated using the criteria described in the Report of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (Table 1).

Abstract and Summary Statements

Abstract Objective To provide guidelines for health care providers on the use of contraceptive methods to prevent pregnancy and on the promotion of healthy sexuality. Outcomes Guidance for Canadian practitioners on overall effectiveness, mechanism of action, indications, contraindications, non-contraceptive benefits, side effects and risks, and initiation of cited contraceptive methods; family planning in the context of sexual health and general wellbeing; contraceptive counselling methods; and access to and availability of cited contraceptive methods in Canada. Evidence Published literature was retrieved through searches of Medline and The Cochrane Database from January 1994 to January 2015 using appropriate controlled vocabulary (e.g., contraception, sexuality, sexual health) and key words (e.g., contraception, family planning, hormonal contraception, emergency contraception). Results were restricted to systematic reviews, randomized control trials/controlled clinical trials, and observational studies published in English from January 1994 to January 2015. Searches were updated on a regular basis and incorporated in the guideline to June 2015. Grey (unpublished) literature was identified through searching the websites of health technology assessment and health technology-related agencies, clinical practice guideline collections, clinical trial registries, and national and international medical specialty societies. Values The quality of the evidence in this document was rated using the criteria described in the Report of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (Table 1).

Diagnosis of Ovarian Torsion: Is It Time to Forget About Doppler?

OBJECTIVE Accuracy of ultrasound in diagnosis of ovarian torsion remains controversial, with some studies reporting correct diagnosis in only 23% to 66% of cases. Normal Doppler flow does not necessarily exclude an ovarian torsion; in fact, it may lead to missing the diagnosis and has been show to delay management. The objective of our study was to assess sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound diagnosis of ovarian torsion and to analyze the factors contributing to correct and incorrect diagnosis. METHODS All women presenting with abdominal pain and admitted for urgent/emergent surgery to the gynaecology service at a major teaching hospital between September 2010 and August 2015 were reviewed. Of those, 55 cases of surgically proven ovarian torsion and 48 control cases were selected. Ultrasound reports were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS Sixty-one percent of right ovarian torsion case and 27% of left ovarian torsion cases had normal Doppler flow. Presence of ovarian cysts was significantly associated with torsion. Sensitivity of ultrasound was 70% and specificity was 87%. CONCLUSION While ultrasound can be used to support a diagnosis of ovarian torsion, it is a clinical diagnosis that requires integration of many factors, especially patient presentation and exclusion of other non-gynaecological pathologies. Doppler flow is not a useful variable to diagnose or exclude ovarian torsion and we recommend it should not be used to exclude a diagnosis of ovarian torsion.

Optimizing resident operative self-confidence through competency-based surgical education modules: are we there yet?

Introduction and hypothesisSelf-confidence is the belief in one’s ability to perform and can be enhanced by training. Surgical education should aim to optimize trainee confidence. We designed three procedure-specific competency-based modules to teach vaginal hysterectomy (VH), anterior (AR) and posterior repair (PR) to novice gynecology residents. We hypothesized each module would improve self-confidence and satisfaction during index procedure performance in the operating room.MethodsThis was an ancillary analysis of a larger randomized-controlled trial of gynecologic educational interventions. Residents at three Canadian universities were included if they had previously performed fewer than five index procedures independently. Intervention residents received educational modules; controls engaged in self-directed learning. All residents performed one or more of the three surgeries and filled out a validated Self-Confidence Scale and a Satisfaction Scale. Scores were compared between groups. Correlations were sought between self-confidence and various variables.ResultsForty-six residents at three Canadian universities were randomized (21 intervention, 25 control). Most residents had never performed the index procedure. Overall, self-confidence was significantly higher (p = 0.021) in the intervention group for VH, but not for AR and PR (p = 0.94 and p = 0.12, respectively). Compared with controls, self-confidence was also significantly higher in intervention residents who had never performed VH (p = 0.026) or PR (p = 0.027) and in first and second year intervention residents. There was a positive correlation between self-confidence and satisfaction.ConclusionsSurgical modules improved self-confidence preferentially in the most junior residents and for more complicated procedures. The wide self-confidence ranges observed suggest that optimization should be an important goal for surgical educators.