Impact of structured training of basic surgical skills in controlled environment for first.year postgraduate students of surgical specialties

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Appropriate training and obtaining adequate competency in basic surgical skills is very essential for a fresh postgraduate in surgical specialties to deliver effectively various responsibilities. Due to absence of any methodology to assess these skills before entry into the surgical residency program, anxiety and low confidence regarding the skills, there is delay in allotting graded responsibilities by the faculty and seniors. Hence a short structured training program to address these skills was planned and implemented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty two trainees underwent this course in last five years. The training included very basic surgical skills demonstrated and hands on training in controlled environment of clinical skills laboratory. Secondary outcome was assessed for available forty three trainees. RESULTS: The immediate feedback suggested that the training was necessary, very useful and perception wise the trainees felt their competencies improved significantly from 60 -80%. They also opined that these facilities should be allowed to use regularly and all of them opined that they wish to be assessed after three months to assess internalization of skills obtained. Retention test was conducted for 43 available postgraduates in the form of OSCE .Their scores revealed good improvement in the skills by 60-80% suggesting the utility of the training and improvement in the competencies. CONCLUSION: Training of various basic surgical skills in a controlled environment improves competencies of fresh postgraduates, improves their confidence and reduces time for allotting graded responsibilities

Keywords

• basic surgical skills
• controlled environment
• skills laboratory
• surgical simulation