Effect of a resident self-study and presentation program on performance on the thoracic surgery in-training examination

• Published in: The American journal of surgery 2001-02, Vol.181 (2), p.142-144
• Main Authors: Bull, David A, Stringham, James C, Karwande, S.V, Neumayer, Leigh A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Clinical Competence; Didacticism; Educational Measurement; Format; Heart surgery; Humans; Internship and Residency - standards; Lecture format; Mean; Medical sciences; Performance enhancement; Program Evaluation; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Public speaking; Self study; Self-study program; Surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the respiratory system; Teaching - methods; Teaching. Deontology. Ethics. Legislation; Thoracic surgery; Thoracic Surgery - education; Thoracic surgery training; Thorax; Training; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 0002-9610; 1879-1883
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9610(00)00567-5

Background: In this study we examine whether conversion from a didactic lecture format to a resident self-study and presentation program can improve performance on the Thoracic Surgery In-Training Examination (TSITE). Methods: During the first 5 years, educational conferences were didactic lectures delivered by the attending thoracic surgery staff (group 1, n = 9 residents). During the second 5 years, residents prepared and delivered reviews from major textbook sources (group 2, n = 9 residents). Scores on the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) as a chief resident in general surgery were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance to assess fund of knowledge and test-taking skills prior to thoracic surgery training for the two groups. Scores on the TSITE during the first and second years of thoracic surgery training were recorded for each resident and analyzed using a paired t test. The data are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. Results: Eighteen thoracic surgery residents over a 10-year period were involved in the study. ABSITE scores as a chief resident in general surgery did not differ between the two groups. Residents in group 1 improved their percentile rank from the first to the second year by a mean of 11% ± 12%, whereas those in group 2 improved their scores by a mean of 31% ± 21% ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: When compared with a didactic lecture format, a resident self study and presentation program improves performance on the Thoracic Surgery In-Training Examination. This improvement in performance typically manifests during the second year of thoracic surgery training.