Needs assessment for electrosurgery training of residents and faculty in obstetrics and gynecology.
OBJECTIVE
Effective application of electrosurgical techniques requires knowledge of energy sources and electric circuits to produce desired tissue effects. A lack of electrosurgery knowledge may negatively affect patient outcomes and safety. Our objective was to survey obstetrics-gynecology trainees and faculty to assess their basic knowledge of electrosurgery concepts as a needs assessment for formal electrosurgery training.


METHODS
We performed an observational study with a sample of convenience at 2 academic hospitals (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Mount Auburn Hospital). Grand rounds dedicated to electrosurgery teaching were conducted at each department of obstetrics and gynecology, where a short electrosurgery multiple-choice examination was administered to attendees.


RESULTS
The face validity of the test content was obtained from a gynecologic electrosurgery specialist. Forty-four individuals completed the examination. Test scores were analyzed by level of training to investigate whether scores positively correlated with more advanced career stages. The median test score was 45.5% among all participants (interquartile range, 36.4%-54.5%). Senior residents scored the highest (median score, 54.5%), followed by attendings (median score, 45.5%), junior residents and fellows (median score in both groups, 36.4%), and medical students (median score, 27.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
Although surgeons have used electrosurgery for nearly a century, it remains poorly understood by most obstetrician-gynecologists. Senior residents, attendings, junior residents, and medical students all show a general deficiency in electrosurgery comprehension. This study suggests that there is a need for formal electrosurgery training. A standardized electrosurgery curriculum with a workshop component demonstrating clinically useful concepts essential for safe surgical practice is advised.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Hye-Chun
HC
Hur
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Isabel
I
Green
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Anna Merport
AM
Modest
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Magdy
M
Milad
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Edwin
E
Huang
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Hope
H
Ricciotti
D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000193:education*; D005178:Faculty; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*
Electrosurgery; Surgical curriculum; Surgical teaching