title: [Assessment of surgical competence. A Mexican pilot study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Assessment of technical dexterity is currently the weakest issue in surgical evaluation. It is imperative to develop an objective exam that allows us to correct training deficiencies and abilities and to objectively feedback education programs and hospitals. The purpose of this study was to perform a correlation between theoretical knowledge and surgical skills.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a national pilot study in in surgeons certifying by the Mexican Board of Surgery in 2010. This was a two-stage study: written exam (stage I) and oral exam (viva voce) to all surgeons approving the written exam (stage II). In stage II we utilized an objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS) whose results were correlated with those of the written and oral exams. The assessment involved seven skill stations and a global rating scale to indicate correctly performed or not and a fail/pass exam, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-two surgeons approved the written exam in two places. We found no statistical difference among skills in open surgery (bowel anastomosis, liver and vascular suture), laparoscopic surgery (grape pilling, cutting a circle and intracorporeal knot tying) and instrument identification. There was a statistically significant difference (p <0.001) when median values were compared between laparoscopic surgery vs. open surgery and the identification of surgical instruments. There was a correlation between theoretical knowledge and surgical skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When applying an OSATS, we found a positive correlation between theoretical knowledge and surgical skills. This assessment proves to to be valid and reliable for the evaluation of surgical dexterity.
authors: Asociación Mexicana de Cirugía General y Colegio de Posgraduados en Cirugía General, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. robana@prodigy.net.mx
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Anaya-Prado
authors: Luis Humberto
authors: LH
authors: Ortega-León
authors: Mauro Eduardo
authors: ME
authors: Ramirez-Solis
authors: José Arturo
authors: JA
authors: Vázquez-García
authors: Juan Bernardo
authors: JB
authors: Medina-Portillo
authors: Ernesto Alonso
authors: EA
authors: Ayala-López
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D013502:General Surgery / Q000592:standards*; D008800:Mexico; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires