title: Knowledge and usability of a trauma training system for general surgery residents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Resident work-hour restrictions challenge educators to supplement residents' surgical education. We evaluated a computer-based trauma surgery system's ability to increase residents' surgical knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Modules on thoracic and abdominal surgical approaches were evaluated. Surgical residents with 1 or more years of experience completed the pretest, an interactive module, the post-test, and a usability survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen participants completed both modules. Thoracic module pretest and post-test scores were 56 ± 11 (mean ± standard deviation) and 90 ± 10, respectively (P < .0001). Mean abdominal module scores were 48 ± 20 and 85 ± 14, respectively (P < .0001). The usability survey showed that 87% of participants would use these modules to supplement their trauma training, 93% could easily distinguish anatomic detail, and 100% thought that procedures were shown clearly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This novel computer-based trauma education training system improved residents' knowledge of anatomy, surgical incisions, exposures, and technique. As innovative didactic tools arise in postgraduate medical education, it is crucial to document their effects on educational processes, learning satisfaction, and knowledge outcomes.
authors: DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33101, USA.
authors: James S
authors: JS
authors: Davis
authors: George D
authors: GD
authors: Garcia
authors: Mary M
authors: MM
authors: Wyckoff
authors: Salman
authors: S
authors: Alsafran
authors: Jill M
authors: JM
authors: Graygo
authors: Kelly F
authors: KF
authors: Withum
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Levine
authors: Carl I
authors: CI
authors: Schulman
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000193:education; D014584:User-Computer Interface