Development of an evidence-based curriculum for training of ward-based surgical care.
BACKGROUND
Ward-based care of surgical patients is a complex and variable process, centered on the surgical ward round (WR). The authors describe the development of an evidence-based curriculum to improve ward-based care in the form of surgical WRs.


METHODS
A modular, simulation-based curriculum was developed according to validated methods, incorporating the most recent evidence in the design of each educational module.


RESULTS
A predevelopmental analysis questionnaire identified themes of patient assessment and management, communication skills, and teamwork as areas to be addressed. Curricular development incorporated knowledge and confidence assessment, lecture-based teaching, and simulated WR, followed by individualized assessment, debriefing, and feedback. Each module is evidence based and assesses trainees using validated tools.


CONCLUSIONS
A comprehensive and cost-effective simulation-based curriculum, developed according to a validated framework, has been developed for surgical WRs and ward-based care. This may improve trainees' WR performance, improving patient care and surgical outcomes in turn.
Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, 10th Floor, QEQM Building, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK. Electronic address: p.pucher@imperial.ac.uk.
Philip H
PH
Pucher
Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, 10th Floor, QEQM Building, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK.
Ara
A
Darzi
Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, 10th Floor, QEQM Building, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Rajesh
R
Aggarwal
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003479:Curriculum; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Curriculum; Simulation; Surgery; Ward round