Residency Training in Robotic General Surgery: A Survey of Program Directors.

Rebecca O'Neill,Aziz M Merchant,Lea C George

doi:10.1155/2018/8464298

Rebecca O'Neill, Aziz M Merchant + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8464298

Copy DOI

Abstract

Objective Robotic surgery continues to expand in minimally invasive surgery; however, the literature is insufficient to understand the current training process for general surgery residents. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to identify the current approach to and perspectives on robotic surgery training. Methods An electronic survey was distributed to general surgery program directors identified by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education website. Multiple choice and open-ended questions regarding current practices and opinions on robotic surgery training in general surgery residency programs were used. Results20 program directors were surveyed, a majority being from medium-sized programs (4–7 graduating residents per year). Most respondents (73.68%) had a formal robotic surgery curriculum at their institution, with 63.16% incorporating simulation training. Approximately half of the respondents believe that more time should be dedicated to robotic surgery training (52.63%), with simulation training prior to console use (84.21%). About two-thirds of the respondents (63.16%) believe that a formal robotic surgery curriculum should be established as a part of general surgery residency, with more than half believing that exposure should occur in postgraduate year one (55%). Conclusion A formal robotics curriculum with simulation training and early surgical exposure for general surgery residents should be given consideration in surgical residency training.

Highlights

Since its emergence, robotic surgery technology has seen rapid global adoption across many surgical disciplines including urology, gynecology, and general surgery and, robotic surgery is a mainstay of minimally invasive surgery in the United States [1–4]
We found that the majority of responding program directors do not currently use robotic surgery in their practice, but their general surgery residency programs did have a formal robotic surgery curriculum as well as simulation training
Most respondents are of programs that currently collaborate with industry to provide robotic surgery training to residents and most responding program directors believe that they should continue to play a role in the future

Summary

Introduction

Robotic surgery technology has seen rapid global adoption across many surgical disciplines including urology, gynecology, and general surgery and, robotic surgery is a mainstay of minimally invasive surgery in the United States [1–4]. Despite the growing field of robotic surgery, there have been only minor changes in the general surgery residency curriculum to incorporate robotic surgery education [8]. In the first few years following robotic surgery FDA approval, several studies explored methods of implementing robotic surgery into general surgery residency training. In 2002, Donias et al found that only 23% of responding general surgery program directors wished to incorporate robotic training into their residency programs [9]. A year later, Patel et al discovered that 57% of residents had a strong interest in robotic surgery, yet 80% of them did not have an established robotics training program at their institution [10]. Based on a survey study from 2013, Farivar et al uncovered that while 96% of US residents have a surgical robot system at their institution, only 63% of residents have participated in a robotic case. 60% of those residents did not receive any robotics training prior to participation [5]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion