Surgical Practical Skills Learning Curriculum: Implementation and Interns' Confidence Perceptions

Objective To provide an overview of the practical skills learning curriculum and assess its effects over time on the surgical interns’ perceptions of their technical skills, patient management, administrative tasks, and knowledge. Design An 84-hour practical skills curriculum composed of didactic, simulation, and practical sessions was implemented during the 2015 to 2016 academic year for general surgery interns. Totally, 40% of the sessions were held during orientation, whereas the remainder sessions were held throughout the academic year. Interns’ perceptions of their technical skills, administrative tasks, patient management, and knowledge were assessed by the practical skills curriculum residents’ perception survey at various time points during their intern year (baseline, midpoint, and final). Interns were also asked to fill out an evaluation survey at the completion of each session to obtain feedback on the curriculum. Setting General Surgery Residency program at a tertiary care academic institution. Participants 20 General Surgery categorical and preliminary interns. Results Significant differences were found over time in interns’ perceptions on their technical skills, patient management, administrative tasks, and knowledge (p 0.05 for all). Conclusions Implementation of a Practical Skills Curriculum in surgical internships can improve interns’ confidence perception on their technical skills, patient management skills, administrative tasks, and knowledge.