Improving the Surgical Education Experience: 9-month Outcomes of an Education Time-Out Pilot Study

Objective

We aimed to: 1) create a Surgical Education Time-Out Tool (SET-OuT) checklist training module for faculty utilizing a highly-realistic simulation and 2) assess faculty and resident perioperative educational experiences pre- and post-SET-OuT intervention.

Design, Setting, and Participants

We recruited gynecologic surgical faculty and PGY1 to PGY3 obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) residents from the University of Utah. Each enrolled participant completed a baseline and 9-month survey about their educational experiences and SET-OuT satisfaction. Faculty enrollment required completion of highly-realistic SET-OuT simulation with a simulated resident actor. We compared individual measures and composite teacher self-efficacy scale and composite resident procedural self-confidence scale between time points using rank sum tests. We converted Likert-scale items to 5-point scales and used mixed linear models to investigate whether relationships persisted after accounting for individual surgeons’ and residents’ effects.

Results

Twenty-five of 62 (40%) faculty and 15/17 (88%) residents enrolled with 100% baseline survey completion. Twenty of 25 (80%) faculty and 12/15 (80%) residents completed the 9-month survey. Faculty scored a median 34/45 points on the self-efficacy scale at baseline and 41/45 points at 9 months (p < 0.01). Faculty demonstrated a 0.9-point improvement in teaching performance satisfaction (p < 0.01). Residents’ procedural self-confidence was 16.5/30 at baseline and 22/30 at 9-months (p = 0.01) and felt their value and input in the surgical education experience improved. Residents reported improved satisfaction with feedback at 9-months compared to baseline (p = 0.01). Faculty and residents reported 85% and 100% satisfaction with the ETO as a teaching tool, respectively.

Conclusions

Implementation of a perioperative SET-OuT improved faculty teaching self-efficacy and resident procedural confidence. Both groups highly rated the SET-OuT as an acceptable perioperative teaching tool.