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Surgical Competencies Required in Newly Commencing Colorectal Surgeons: an Educational and Training Spectrum

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Abstract

Purpose

Surgical training models have changed from master-apprentice to competency-based training. We aimed to determine the relative importance and peak periods of acquiring these competencies in newly commencing colorectal surgeons.

Methods

A mailed questionnaire to all current Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSSANZ) members was conducted between October and December 2016 assessing the relative importance of each competency and the period or activity of learning or training contributing most to achieving that competency.

Results

The response rate was 43% (90/208) with 87% (n = 75) agreed or strongly agreed to the relevance and applicability of the nine RACS competencies. Competencies varied in perceived importance (strongly agreed: judgment-clinical decision-making (JU) 63%, collaboration/teamwork (CT) 53%, technical expertise (TE) 47%, communication (CO) 44%, medical expertise (ME) 34%, scholarship/teaching (ST) 33%, professionalism (PR) 33%/ethics (ET) 24%, health advocacy (HA) 18%, management (MX) 13%/leadership (LE) 17%), and the peak period for acquiring them (registrar: CO 39%, ST 30%; fellow: TE 62%, CT 44%, ME 40%, JU 38%; consultant: MX/LE 52%, HA 48%, PR/ET 33%).

Conclusion

Surgical competencies for colorectal surgeons are accumulated and acquired at varying degrees and periods across a spectrum of continuing registrar, fellow, and consultant education and training. These findings serve as a baseline for further refinement of current and continuing educational and training programs.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand for their approval to distribute the survey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Academic Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Assad Zahid, Vasant Rajan, Jonathan Hong & Christopher J. Young

  2. Discipline of Surgery, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Assad Zahid, Vasant Rajan & Christopher J. Young

  3. Department of Colorectal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia

    Jonathan Hong & Christopher J. Young

Authors
  1. Assad Zahid
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  2. Vasant Rajan
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  3. Jonathan Hong
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  4. Christopher J. Young
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Contributions

Vasant Rajan, Jonathan Hong, and Christopher Young contributed to the conception, design, analysis, and interpretation of data, as well as drafting and critically revising the manuscript. Vasant Rajan was additionally responsible for the acquisition of data. Assad Zahid contributed to the analysis and interpretation of data, as well as drafting and critically revising the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Christopher J. Young.

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This paper furthers the understanding and relevance of competency-based surgical education and training to the professional development of a colorectal surgeon.

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Zahid, A., Rajan, V., Hong, J. et al. Surgical Competencies Required in Newly Commencing Colorectal Surgeons: an Educational and Training Spectrum. Med.Sci.Educ. 30, 1043–1047 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-020-01005-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-020-01005-z

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