title: Needs Assessment for Incoming PGY-1 Residents in Neurosurgical Residency.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Residents must develop a diverse range of skills in order to practice neurosurgery safely and effectively. The purpose of this study was to identify the foundational skills required for neurosurgical trainees as they transition from medical school to residency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on the CanMEDS competency framework, a web-based survey was distributed to all Canadian academic neurosurgical centers, targeting incoming and current PGY-1 neurosurgical residents as well as program directors. Using Likert scale and free-text responses, respondents rated the importance of various cognitive (e.g. management of raised intracranial pressure), technical (e.g. performing a lumbar puncture) and behavioral skills (e.g. obtaining informed consent) required for a PGY-1 neurosurgical resident.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 52 individuals contacted, 38 responses were received. Of these, 10 were from program directors (71%), 11 from current PGY-1 residents (58%) and 17 from incoming PGY-1 residents (89%). Respondents emphasized operative skills such as proper sterile technique and patient positioning; clinical skills such as lesion localization and interpreting neuro-imaging; management skills for common scenarios such as raised intracranial pressure and status epilepticus; and technical skills such as lumbar puncture and external ventricular drain placement. Free text answers were concordant with the Likert scale results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We surveyed Canadian neurosurgical program directors and PGY-1 residents to identify areas perceived as foundational to neurosurgical residency education and training. This information is valuable for evaluating the appropriateness of a training program's goals and objectives, as well as for generating a national educational curriculum for incoming PGY-1 residents.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Surgery (Neurosurgery),Dalhousie University,Halifax,Nova Scotia.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Brandman
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences (Neurosurgery),Western University,London,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: Faizal A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Haji
authors.affiliation: 2Faculty of Medicine,Dalhousie University,Halifax,Nova Scotia.
authors.forename: Marie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Matte
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Surgery (Neurosurgery),Dalhousie University,Halifax,Nova Scotia.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: needs assessment