title: Formal assessment of the surgical trainee: a review of eight years experience at St Lawrence Hospital, Chepstow.
abstract: In light of the proposals for a continuum of higher surgical training, we reviewed an 8-year experience of formal assessments of surgical trainees. We undertook a retrospective analysis of 34 completed assessment forms, retrieved from records, and a postal questionnaire of 54 former (and current) trainees. Our study revealed that all trainees agreed in principle with formal assessments. Eighty-one per cent found their assessment either useful or excellent and a further 17 per cent found the advice received was influential in their careers. The consultants, in turn, were able to modify the training programme as a result of constructive feedback. Based on our experience we recommend formal assessments of surgical trainees as an important and rewarding part of an impartial peer review system within a continuum of higher surgical training.
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D004739:England; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D012189:Retrospective Studies