An intensive training of cardiothoracic surgical skills and simulation course increases procedural knowledge – feedback from fifteen courses

Background: A lack of incorporated teaching time in the National Health Service leaves surgical trainees and surgical care practitioners lacking confidence during surgery. We implemented a simulation based surgical skills course in cardiothoracic surgery to supplement in-post training. This study aimed to understand the ability of health care professionals and to get their constructive feedback post training. Method: All participants underwent 10 hours of intense cardiothoracic skills training. The participants included are surgical specialist registrars, core surgical trainees and surgical care practitioners. Participants completed pre and post course Likert scale questionnaires assessing their procedural knowledge and learning outcomes. Consultant and senior surgical faculty members taught at the courses in a ratio of almost 2:1 participant to teachers. A variety of cardiothoracic skills were taught using porcine and human cadaverous surgical skills models. All the skills sessions were structured and aligned with their current surgical curriculum. Result: Participants reported low pre-course knowledge of the topics covered in the course (study mean less than 2.07 for all topics). High satisfaction was reported with the content of the course and the organisation and logistics involved. There was a high likelihood of participants recommending the course to colleagues. Conclusion: Pre-course cardiothoracic skills of participants were limited. This clearly identifies that the teaching time spent in the operating theatre is insufficient. All participants felt that these types of cardiothoracic surgical skills courses will increase the chance of improved patient outcomes. It is important to teach trainees with adequate anatomical demonstration and hands on practice outside the theatre settings. This type of training may be useful for other surgical specialities. *Correspondence to: Krishnamoorthy B, Lead Surgical Care Practitioner, Cardiothoracic surgery, Manchester Foundation Trust, Programme Director/ Senior Lecturer at Edgehill University for MSc Surgical Practice, Honorary Research Associate at The University of Manchester, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust Manchester, UK, Tel: 0044 161 291 2078; Fax: 0044 161 291 5024; E-mail: bhuvaneswari.bibleraaj@mft.nhs.uk