A Face-to-Face Surgical Instrumentation Course During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Samuel E Cullen,Alistair R Hunter,Kalpesh R Vaghela,Angela Tiu

doi:10.7759/cureus.19266

Abstract

ObjectivesSurgical instrumentation teaching is included as an essential part of surgical training in the core surgical training syllabus. Access to formal teaching is variable, and opportunities for informal teaching have been further reduced by the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to design a course to fulfil these local trainees' needs. A move away from face-to-face teaching has occurred successfully during the pandemic, but little literature exists on how face-to-face courses can be best designed during this time. We aimed to describe the practicalities of running a face-to-face course with COVID restrictions.MethodsJunior doctors and nurses rotated around five stations led by theatre nurses and senior doctors, each with common instruments from different surgical subspecialties. Social distancing was observed, and level 2 personal protective equipment (PPE) was worn throughout the course. Matched pre- and post-course tests allowed evaluation of learning.ResultsThe course had 20 attendees, and the test scores improved following the course by an average of 9% (p = 0.009). All attendees (100%) found the course improved their knowledge and confidence. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and the significant improvement in the multiple-choice question (MCQ) scores demonstrates that this was an effective method of delivering teaching despite the COVID-19 restrictions on social distancing.ConclusionThis course shows that instrumentation training is valuable to trainees and provides a good example to other educators, showing the workings of how a practical course may be run face-to-face during the pandemic.

Highlights

Surgical instrumentation teaching is an essential part of a core surgical trainee’s education [1]
The significant improvement in the multiple-choice question (MCQ) scores demonstrates that this was an effective method of delivering teaching despite the COVID-19 restrictions on social distancing
Operating theatre exposure for junior trainees is increasingly limited; a recent large-scale audit demonstrated that only 5% of orthopaedic core surgical trainees met the Joint Committee on Surgical Training standards for minimum weekly clinical exposure [2]

Summary

Introduction

Surgical instrumentation teaching is an essential part of a core surgical trainee’s education [1]. It is important that junior surgical trainees across all disciplines are given access to formal teaching in a multi-disciplinary environment. This can be challenging due to the plethora of different instruments available and their often-eponymous names, which can be difficult to recall. A trainee’s experience of surgical instrumentation differs depending on the time spent in theatre and the availability and quality of teaching. Operating theatre exposure for junior trainees is increasingly limited; a recent large-scale audit demonstrated that only 5% of orthopaedic core surgical trainees met the Joint Committee on Surgical Training standards for minimum weekly clinical exposure [2]. Formal instrumentation teaching will prepare trainees more effectively for theatre sessions and potentially equips trainees to use limited theatre time in a more focused and targeted manner

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Discussion

Conclusion