title: Impact of a Vascular Neurosurgery Simulation-Based Course on Cognitive Knowledge and Technical Skills in European Neurosurgical Trainees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess microsurgical and diagnostic cerebral angiography modules and their corresponding objective assessment scales as educational tools for European neurosurgical residents at the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies Resident Vascular Neurosurgery course, which was held in Prague, Czech Republic, on September 2013. Microsurgical skills and cerebral angiography are fundamental skills in vascular neurosurgery. There is a need to develop a simulation-based curriculum focusing on these skills for neurosurgical trainees worldwide.
  
  
  METHODS
  The course consisted of 2 modules: microanastomosis and diagnostic cerebral angiography. In addition to an initial screening survey, each module was divided into 3 components: 1) a before didactic cognitive knowledge and technical skills testing, 2) a didactic lecture, and 3) an after didactic cognitive knowledge and technical skills testing. We compared the trainees' cognitive and technical scores from the before and after testing phases. Wilcoxon sum rank test was used to test statistical significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The knowledge test median scores increased from 63% and 68% to 80% and 88% (P < 0.01) on the microanastomosis and cerebral angiography modules, respectively. The practical hands-on simulation assessment median scores increased from 42% and 50% to 50.5% and 68% (P < 0.01) on the microanastomosis and cerebral angiography modules, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our course suggests that a simulation-based vascular neurosurgery curriculum is feasible and may enhance resident knowledge and technical proficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Samer G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Zammar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Najib E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: El Tecle
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Tarek Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: El Ahmadieh
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurological Surgery/Children's Neuroscience, Department of Child Health, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: P David
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Adelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Capital Health Institute for Neurosciences, Trenton, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Veznedaroglu
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurological Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Surdell
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Harrop
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Central Military Hospital and Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Benes
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Ali R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rezai
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Clinical Science Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Resnick
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address: bendok.bernard@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Bernard R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Bendok
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000193:education; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003071:Cognition; D003479:Curriculum; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000193:education*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*
keywords: Angiography; Education; Innovation; Microanastomosis; Neurosurgery; Resident; Simulation; Training