Design and development of a surgical skills simulation curriculum.
BACKGROUND
A number of significant changes have forced surgical educators to re-evaluate the adequacy of traditional forms of surgical skills training.


METHODS
A review of the literature reveals that surgical simulation has emerged as a useful adjunct to help educators adjust to the demands of an ever-changing surgical practice environment. As such, integration of simulation technology into a busy surgical training program has now become a priority for training programs worldwide.


RESULTS
Successful integration requires a disciplined and dedicated approach to the appropriate use of all forms of available simulation in a well-designed curriculum.


CONCLUSIONS
This manuscript provides a discussion of how this can be achieved using a sequential, modular, criterion-based framework, providing details of the rationale behind such an approach and current examples of how it can be integrated.
McClusky
David A
DA
Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA.
Smith
C Daniel
CD
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational