HANDS-ON: Training Simulation in Surgery.

Abstract

Methods of the teaching-learning binomial in surgery has undergone major transformations in the last decade, moving from purely informational content models of environments that stimulate theoretical “know-how” by incorporating skills and competencies. There has been a paradigm shift in the training of surgical residents from the traditional ‘‘apprenticeship’’ model to a hybrid one, involving simulation training. This shift has been in response to several current challenges in residency training, including time constraints, patient safety concerns, financial costs, and decreasing durations of training programs. 1 During the past several years, major shifts in surgical education have brought into question whether surgical residency programs could truly ensure competency and technical proficiency in these surgeons. 2 Simulation is an increasingly vital component of graduate medical education and becoming the standard of practice in many residency programs, particularly in surgical specialties, owing to the need for moving basic skill acquisition out of operating rooms into surgical skill laboratories. Deliberate practice is an educational technique that aims to improve performance through intense training and preparation. These steps include repetition, assessment, and feedback, which lead to performance improvement. 3