Practical training for postgraduate year 1 surgery residents.
BACKGROUND
Surgical interns accept significant patient care responsibilities with minimal orientation. We have developed a multifaceted training program for incoming surgical interns in which learning in a simulated environment plays a key role. The purpose of this study was to evaluate resident perceptions of simulated clinical calls as an educational modality and to measure the effect on self-ratings of confidence.


METHODS
A multidisciplinary team compiled 15 clinical scenarios. Simulated nurse-to-resident clinical call sessions were held on 3 separate days. Daily course evaluation surveys and identical precourse and postcourse confidence surveys were completed.


RESULTS
The resident confidence measure increased significantly postcourse (6.73 versus 8.35, P <0.03). The evaluation survey score averaged 4.35 out of 5.


CONCLUSIONS
Simulated clinical call sessions were well received and resulted in a significant increase in resident confidence levels. Based on this modality's apparent efficacy and ease of implementation, we offer it as a useful educational tool for incoming postgraduate year-1 surgical residents.
Marshall
R L
RL
Department of Surgery, Simulation Development and Cognitive Science Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Gorman
P J
PJ
Verne
D
D
Culina-Gula
S
S
Murray
W B
WB
Haluck
R S
RS
Krummel
T M
TM
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000145:classification; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007858:Learning; D009726:Nurses; D005791:Patient Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012649:Self Concept; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014163:Transfer, Psychology