CRITICAL CARE EDUCATION OF SURGICAL RESIDENTS

Abstract

Abstract Critical care education may vary in general surgery residency programs because no specific guidelines for this type of training exist. In order to determine the current state of resident education in the ICU, a survey was sent to all general surgery program directors. Of the 217 programs responding, 90% had a dedicated ICU rotation. Surgical residents at the PGY-1 (27%) or PGY-2 (46%) level had a 1- (37%) or 2- (49%) month rotation in the ICU. Teaching formats included: bedside rounds (94% of programs), formal lectures (75%), patient problem-based reading (37%), assigned texts (34%), computers (20%), and videotapes (17%) or audiotapes (10%). Procedures were taught mainly by the senior house staff or faculty. Although the curriculum included a broad spectrum of critical care topics, ventilator management and respiratory failure were the only topics universally covered. Resident education in the ICU varies among general surgery programs. The data from this study establish a baseline for following the educational process as more uniform recommendations are developed and the use of novel educational techniques becomes more common.