title: Frequency of use and proficiency in performance of surgical skills expected of entry-level veterinarians by general practitioners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify a list of core surgical skills and determine the frequency of use and proficiency in performance of these skills expected of entry-level veterinarians by general practitioners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mail-based survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  750 general practitioners randomly chosen from the AVMA membership database.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey respondents rated the proficiency and frequency of use expected of entry-level veterinarians in regard to 26 surgical skills. Demographic information (gender; graduation year; practice type, geographic location, and setting; number of veterinarians in practice; number of surgical procedures performed per week; and number of new graduates mentored in the past 5 years) of respondents was obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  387 (52%) general practitioners responded to the survey. Greater than 60% of respondents expected new graduates to have high proficiency and require minimal supervision for 21 of 26 skills. Greater than 60% of respondents assigned 6 of the skills a low expected frequency of use rating. Orthopedic skills, creation of square knots by use of a 1-handed tie technique, and use of electrosurgical and laser instruments received some of the lowest ratings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Core surgical skills were identified. Results indicated a broad consensus among general practitioners independent of demographic characteristics. Results may aid veterinary colleges in identification of the surgical skills that are most important to include in surgical curricula and for which new graduates should attain proficiency according to general practitioners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43221, USA. lawrence.hill@cvm.osu.edu
authors.forename: Lawrence N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Daniel D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Smeak
authors.forename: Linda K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Lord
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013522:Surgery, Veterinary / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*