title: Research priorities for multi-institutional collaborative research in surgical education.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research in surgical education has seen unprecedented growth but originates from single institutions and remains uncoordinated; this study aimed to generate a list of research priorities in surgical educational topics.
  
  
  METHODS
  The membership of the Association for Surgical Education was asked to submit up to 5 research questions concerned with multi-institutional collaborative surgical education research and to identify challenges faced by surgical education researchers. A modified Delphi methodology was used to create the research agenda based on these responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgical educators responded to 3 survey rounds. Categories of submitted questions included teaching methods and curriculum development; assessment and competency; simulation; medical student preparation and selection; impact of work hour restrictions; and faculty development. Participants cited institutional culture and practice variability and lack of institutional review board coordination as common barriers to collaborative research, while identifying extensive planning, frequent communication, and availability of dedicated research coordinators as the most important facilitators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using a Delphi methodology, a prioritized agenda for multi-institutional surgical education research was developed that may help advance surgeon education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Carolinas Healthcare System, 1025 Morehead Medical Drive, Charlotte, NC 28204, USA. Electronic address: dimitrios.stefanidis@carolinas.org.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stefanidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cochran
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sevdalis
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mellinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Phitayakorn
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Wright State University, Toledo, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barney
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D005178:Faculty; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012106:Research; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States
keywords: Association for surgical education; Delphi process; Educational research; Multi-institutional collaborative research; Research agenda; Surgical education