Preoperative goal setting and perioperative communication in an academic training institution: Where do we stand?

Am J Surg. 2019 Feb;217(2):318-322. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.09.004. Epub 2018 Sep 7.

Abstract

Background: We collected data regarding specific aspects of perioperative surgical education within our institution's Section of Surgical Sciences as a needs assessment.

Methods: Categorical general surgery residents and attending surgeons were queried regarding their perceptions of resident preoperative planning and perioperative communication.

Results: The overall response rate was 81%, with 35 resident and 54 faculty respondents. Residents reported selecting an operative learning objective a median of 50% (IQR 36-67) of the time, whereas attending surgeons perceived this to be the case a median of 26% (IQR 15-35) of the time (P < 0.001). The group reported median frequencies of 20% (IQR 9-31) for preoperative discussion of learning objectives, 12% (IQR 4-27) for preoperative discussion of competence and 27% (IQR 17-55) for postoperative debriefing.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates deficits in resident goal setting and perioperative communication within our program, which are targets for future intervention. We share these results as a potential tool for other programs.

Keywords: Communication; Feedback; Goal setting; Needs assessment; Residency training.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Clinical Competence*
  • Communication*
  • Education, Medical, Graduate / methods*
  • General Surgery / education*
  • Goals
  • Humans
  • Internship and Residency / standards*
  • Operating Rooms
  • Perception / physiology
  • Preoperative Period
  • Professional Autonomy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Students, Medical / psychology*
  • United States