THE FEASIBILITY OF AN INNOVATIVE INTRA-OPERATIVE DECISION MAKING TRAINING COURSE

Purpose : The aim of this study is to develop a training course for enhancing surgical trainees' intra-operative decision making (IODM) skill and evaluate its feasibility.

 

Method(s) : Based on our previous researches, we designed a new IODM training course which was integrated into a well-organised hands-on training for junior surgical trainees and nurses by using live pigs. In the first simulation, we used an interventional clinical scenario and then provided educational events including reflection of participants, articulation of their decisions, feedback from the tutors, learning modules of decision making and different strategies of IODM. The second educational event used several video clips presenting participants' own IODM scenarios by previous observation two weeks ago. After watching the video clips, tutors engaged participants to reflect their decisions and gave feedbacks with decision making theory to enhance the effect of IODM training course. The purpose of the two-week interval was giving time for self-reflection and behaviour change of participants. We used a new developed assessment tool of IODM and established assessment tools for non-technical skills for surgeons (NOTSS) for self-evaluations and objective assessments. The questionnaire of this training course and interviews of the participants after the training were conducted for evaluating effect of the training course.

 

Result(s): The pilot study has been conducted since November, 2015. Thirteen residents, thirteen medical students and six nurses have participated in the study. We successfully set up the layout of the simulation and decided how to place the video-recorded facilities to improve the quality of scenario reflection. In addition, we prepared learning modules with scholar evidences, a 5-minute video and paper handout, and arranged the format of educational events and process of the workshop. According to the interview of the participants, they felt stress-free and thought the training course was beneficial to them. Moreover, we developed assessment tools for IODM with validated evidence.

 

Conclusion(s) : We successfully set up a new IODM training course with two educational sessions and a new developed assessment tool for IODM through the pilot study and the results proved that this innovative IODM training course was feasible. After minor revision, our IODM training course will be implemented formally since March, 2016