Self-assessment during a 2-day laparoscopic colectomy course: can surgeons judge how well they are learning new skills?
BACKGROUND
The objectives of this study were to (1) establish the utility of an assessment tool for participants in a laparoscopic colectomy course and (2) to determine the accuracy of technical skill self-assessment in this group.


METHODS
Twenty-two surgeons enrolled in a 2-day course participated. During the animal laboratory, each participant's operative performance was videotaped. Participants completed a global rating scale (GRS) instrument to self-assess their performances. By using the same GRS, 2 trained raters independently assessed each performance by videotape review.


RESULTS
For the trained raters, the GRS showed excellent interrater reliability (r = .76, P < .001). There was no correlation between trained rater scores and self-assessment scores. Furthermore, the trained rater scores (mean, 2.62 and 2.99) were significantly lower than the self-assessment scores (4.05, P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Surgeons consistently overestimated their performance during a laparoscopic colectomy course as measured by reliable GRS. This finding highlights the issue of credentialing and the importance of preceptorship for surgeons completing such courses.
Sidhu
Ravi S
RS
Department of Surgery, Saint Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6Z 1Y6.
Vikis
Elena
E
Cheifetz
Rona
R
Phang
Terry
T
D000818:Animals; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003082:Colectomy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D003162:Competency-Based Education; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012647:Self-Assessment