R. Wu1, S. Martinez1, N. T1 1Houston Methodist Hospital, Surgery, Houston, TEXAS, USA
Introduction:
Robotic surgery is rapidly being integrated into general surgery practice, requiring residency programs to implement training. We aimed to create a procedure-specific robotic training program to allow successful transition from simulation to operating room. Before implementation, we performed a needs assessment to determine areas of emphasis within the curriculum.
Methods:
Residents had already learned robotic technology and mastered simulation courses. Inaugural wet lab procedures included robotic inguinal and ventral incisional hernia repair. Before the lab, residents at all levels were given a questionnaire assessing prior exposure to the procedures, Likert scale confidence, multiple-choice and free-text questions about patient selection, port placement, anatomy, and intra-operative complications.
Results:
Prior exposure to robotic inguinal and ventral hernia cases varied within classes, with senior residents having the most cases, reporting higher confidence with port placement, procedural steps, and anatomy. Senior residents also answered more multiple-choice questions correctly. However, there was no difference in free-answer questions regarding anatomy, repair indications, or mesh types between junior and senior residents. All residents requested to make the quiz online and shorter with preference for emphasis on anatomy and mesh choices.
Conclusion:
Targeted needs assessment is critical for development of a robotic simulation curriculum. Despite perceived higher confidence in their knowledge of specific topics, senior residents were not as accurate in their understanding of the procedures on non-multiple-choice questions, which indicated an unrecognized knowledge deficit we addressed in the lab. Future lab iterations will include pre- and post-testing, video review of technique, and longitudinal repetition to monitor resident growth.