title: Global Outreach Using a Systematic, Competency-Based Training Paradigm for Inguinal Hernioplasty.
abstract: Sustainable, capacity-building educational collaborations are essential to address the global burden of surgical disease.
  
  
  
  To assess an international, competency-based training paradigm for hernia surgery in underserved countries.
  
  
  
  In this prospective, observational study performed from November 1, 2013, through October 31, 2015, at 16 hospitals in Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, Paraguay, and the Dominican Republic, surgeons completed initial training programs in hernia repair, underwent interval proficiency assessments, and were appointed regional trainers. Competency-based evaluations of technical proficiency were performed using the Operative Performance Rating Scale (OPRS). Maintenance of proficiency was evaluated by video assessments 6 months after training. Certified trainees received incentives to document independent surgical outcomes after training.
  
  
  
  An OPRS score of 3.0 (scale of 1 [poor] to 5 [excellent]) indicated proficiency. Secondary outcomes included initial vs final scores by country, scores among surgeons trained by the regional trainers (second-order trainees), interval scores 6 months after training, and postoperative complications.
  
  
  
  A total of 20 surgeon trainers, 81 local surgeons, and 364 patients (343 adult, 21 pediatric) participated in the study (mean [SD] age, 47.5 [16.3] years; age range, 16-83 years). All 81 surgeons successfully completed the program, and all 364 patients received successful operations. Mean (SD) OPRS scores improved from 4.06 (0.87) before the initial training program to 4.52 (0.57) after training (P < .001). No significant variation was found by country in final scores. On trainee certification, 20 became regional trainers. The mean (SD) OPRS score among 53 second-order trainees was 4.34 (0.68). After 6-month intervals, the mean (SD) OPRS score among participating surgeons was 4.34 (0.55). The overall operative complication rate during training series was 1.1%.
  
  
  
  Competency-based training helps address the global burden of surgical disease. The OPRS establishes an international standard of technical assessment. Additional studies of long-term surgeon trainer proficiency, community-specific quality initiatives, and expansion to other operations are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska2Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Justin P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska3Department of Surgery, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska.
authors.forename: Alexander D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska4Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska2Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hiatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Mellinger
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska6Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cusick
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska3Department of Surgery, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Fitzgibbons
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska7Department of Surgical Science, University of Insubria, Instituto Clinico Sant'Ambrogio, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campanelli
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska8Department of Surgery, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavalli
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska9Division of General Surgery, School of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roll
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska9Division of General Surgery, School of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska10Department of Surgery, Wilhelmsburg Groß-Sand Hospital, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reinpold
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska11Department of Surgery, L'Hôpital de l'Université d'État d'Haïti, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
authors.forename: Louis-Franck
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Télémaque
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska12Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
authors.forename: Brent D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska3Department of Surgery, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska.
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Filipi
authors.affiliation: Hernia Repair for the Underserved, Omaha, Nebraska2Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D057191:Capacity Building; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003162:Competency-Based Education; D003906:Developing Countries; D004293:Dominican Republic; D004484:Ecuador; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D006205:Haiti; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008875:Middle Aged; D010239:Paraguay; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000070260:Teacher Training; D055815:Young Adult