A structured conference program improves competency-based surgical education.
BACKGROUND
Work hour restrictions and new educational standards pose substantial challenges for modern residency programs. We present results from an institutional effort to improve resident education using a competency-based conference program.


METHODS
The conference program is a weekly 3-hour mandatory block of protected time including a formal lecture series and a modular series tailored to resident level. A comprehensive survey was administered to all general surgery residents before (2005) and after (2006) implementation of the new conference program and included specific items related to the 6 competencies.


RESULTS
Scores for 16 competency-related items all showed statistically significant improvement. We also found improvements in residents' perceptions of the faculty. Overall, the new conference program was rated positively by 98% of residents.


CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of a structured conference program resulted in significant improvement in residents' evaluation of their education in the 6 competencies and improved their perceptions of the faculty.
Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, BOX 95-6904, 72-160 CHS, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095-6904, USA.
Janak A
JA
Parikh
Marcia L
ML
McGory
Clifford Y
CY
Ko
O Joe
OJ
Hines
Areti
A
Tillou
Jonathan R
JR
Hiatt
D002140:California; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods