Is it time for integration of surgical skills simulation into the United Kingdom undergraduate medical curriculum? A perspective from King's College London School of Medicine.
OBJECTIVE
Changes in undergraduate medical curricula, combined with reforms in postgraduate education, have training implications for surgical skills acquisition in a climate of reduced clinical exposure. Confidence and prior experience influences the educational impact of learning. Currently there is no basic surgical skills (BSS) programme integrated into undergraduate curricula in the United Kingdom. We explored the role of a dedicated BSS programme for undergraduates in improving confidence and influencing careers in King's College London School of Medicine, and the programme was evaluated.


METHODS
A programme was designed in-line with the established Royal College of Surgeons course. Undergraduates were taught four key skills over four weeks: knot-tying, basic-suturing, tying-at-depth and chest-drain insertion, using low-fidelity bench-top models. A Likert-style questionnaire was designed to determine educational value and influence on career choice. Qualitative data was collected.


RESULTS
Only 29% and 42% of students had undertaken previous practice in knot-tying and basic suturing, respectively. 96% agreed that skills exposure prior to starting surgical rotations was essential and felt a dedicated course would augment undergraduate training. There was a significant increase in confidence in the practice and knowledge of all skills taught (p<0.01), with a greater motivation to be actively involved in the surgical firm and theatres.


CONCLUSIONS
A simple, structured BSS programme can increase the confidence and motivation of students. Early surgical skills targeting is valuable for students entering surgical, related allied, and even traditionally non-surgical specialties such as general practice. Such experience can increase the confidence of future junior doctors and trainees. We advocate the introduction of a BSS programme into United Kingdom undergraduate curricula.
Department of Surgery, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Karim
K
Hamaoui
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Hazim
H
Sadideen
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Munir
M
Saadeddin
Department of General Surgery, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK.
Sarah
S
Onida
Department of Surgery, William Harvey Hospital, East Kent Foundation Trust, Ashford, UK.
Andrew W
AW
Hoey
Centre for Global Health, King's College London, Weston Education Centre, London, UK.
John
J
Rees
Career choice; Confidence; Evaluation; Surgical skills; Undergraduate training; United Kingdom