An Intensive Surgical Skills and Simulation Course For Vascular Trainees Improves Procedural Knowledge and Self-Rated Procedural Competence

Abstract

Surgical skills and simulation courses are emerging to meet the demand for vascular simulation training, but their educational effect has not been described. We sought to determine the effect of an intensive vascular surgical skills and simulation course on the procedural knowledge and self-rated procedural competence of vascular trainees and to assess participant feedback regarding the course. Participants underwent a 1.5-day course covering open and endovascular procedures on high-fidelity simulators and cadavers. Before and after the course, participants completed a written test that assessed procedural knowledge concerning index open vascular and endovascular procedures. Participants also assessed their own procedural competence in both open and endovascular procedures on a 5-point Likert scale (1: no ability to perform, 5: performs independently). Postcourse and precourse scores were compared among postgraduate year (PGY) 1 and 2 and PGY 3 to 7 trainees. Participants used a survey to rate the relevance and realism of open and endovascular simulations. Twenty-four vascular integrated residents and vascular fellows (PGY1-7) completed the course and all assessments. After course participation, procedural knowledge scores were significantly improved among PGY1-2 residents (precourse: 51% correct vs postcourse: 63%; P = .002) but not among PGY3-7 residents (precourse: 62% correct vs postcourse: 67%; P = .2). Self-rated procedural competence was significantly improved between PGY 1-2 (precourse: 2.5 ± .2 vs postcourse: 3.4 ± .2; P < .0001) and PGY 3-7 (precourse: 3.2 ± .3 vs postcourse: 4.0 ± .2; P = .003) participants. Self-rated procedural competence significantly improved for both endovascular (precourse: 2.3 ± .2 vs postcourse: 3.3 ± .1; P < .0001) and open procedures (precourse: 2.7 ± .2 vs postcourse: 3.6 ± .1; P = .002). Greater than 90% of participants reported they were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the relevance and realism of both open and endovascular simulations. All participants reported they would recommend the course to other trainees. This intensive simulation and surgical skills course improved procedural knowledge concerning index open vascular and endovascular procedures among PGY 1-2 trainees and improved self-rated procedural competence across all levels of training for both open and endovascular procedures. Trainees rated the simulation experience highly. These data support the implementation of similar intensive simulation and surgical skills courses with ongoing objective assessment of their educational effect.