title: Simulation-based otolaryngology - head and neck surgery boot camp: 'how I do it'.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In otolaryngology, surgical emergencies can occur at any time. An annual surgical training camp (or 'boot camp') offers junior residents from across North America the opportunity to learn and practice these skills in a safe environment. The goals of this study were to describe the set-up and execution of a simulation-based otolaryngology boot camp and to determine participants' confidence in performing routine and emergency on-call procedures in stressful situations before and after the boot camp.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were three main components of the boot camp: task trainers, simulations and an interactive panel discussion. Surveys were given to participants before and after the boot camp, and their confidence in performing the different tasks was assessed via multiple t-tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants comprised 22 residents from 12 different universities; 10 of these completed both boot camp surveys. Of the nine tasks, the residents reported a significant improvement in confidence levels for six, including surgical airway and orbital haematoma management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An otolaryngology boot camp gives residents the chance to learn and practice emergency skills before encountering the emergencies in everyday practice. Their confidence in multiple skillsets was significantly improved after the boot camp. Given the shift towards competency-based learning in medical training, this study has implications for all surgical and procedural specialties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery,University of Toronto,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University,London,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery,Western University,London,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery,Western University,London,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Rotenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery,Western University,London,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D006257:Head / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery*; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States
keywords: Education; Emergencies; Otolaryngology; Patient Simulation