Surgical video use and preparation for operative procedures among urology residents and fellows: Results from a national survey

Abstract

Objective: The availability of surgical videos has changed the nature of learning outside the operating room. Within urology, there are limited reports on the use of surgical videos during training. This study sought to characterise both the preferred platforms and the utilization patterns of videos among a contemporary cohort of urology trainees. Materials and Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed by the Society of Academic Urologists to trainees in September 2021. Data prospectively collected included respondent demographics, video platforms utilized, perceived educational value, satisfaction, and overall time spent using videos for case preparation. Results: In total, 169 urology residents and fellows completed the survey (23.6%). Nearly all (96.4%) respondents reported utilizing videos to prepare for cases, with 95.1% reporting videos as helpful for this purpose. YouTube (81.4%) and American Urological Association (AUA) University (16.3%) were the most common sources for video content. Video ‘narration’ was the most valued feature. When stratified by trainee level, 91.5% of senior residents/fellows reported using YouTube, compared with 56.6% of junior residents ( p < 0.005). Overall, approximately 4 out of 5 trainees ultimately recommend YouTube as a video resource, compared with 57% recommending AUA University ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Most urology trainees report surgical videos as a crucial component of their training, preferring to access videos directly from the YouTube website. As the quality of videos from YouTube varies, finding ways to share quality educational content should remain a priority for the medical education community moving forward. Level of evidence: Not applicable