SURGEON V SURGEON Giving trainees the chance to shine

SURGEON SURGEON

An RCSEd-accredited course and competition provides future surgeons with essential training and the opportunity to shine, writes Nakulan Nantha Kumar

attle of the Surgeons

B2022, a national skills course and competition organised by the Foundation Trainees Surgical Society (FTSS) of the West Midlands, took place in early July. The RCSEd-accredited course catered for pre-core training surgical aspirants and was taught by registrars (>ST3) and consultant surgeons from a range of specialties.

The day began by laying a foundation for surgery with demonstration lectures on common surgical instruments and sutures, as well as needle types. The trainees

Participants intently watch a Faculty member demonstrate a safe incision prior to suturing then took part in a series of basic surgical skill workshops involving highly supervised kinaesthetic learning with two to three trainers for every trainee.

The practical workshops comprised hand and instrument knot tying, simple and mattress suturing, tendon repair on porcine models and anchoring porcine abdominal drain tubes with knot tying.

These exercises gave the trainees an opportunity to ‘learn by doing’, reflecting and then reattempting the task, employing Kolb’s learning cycle, where learning is said to be consolidated by reflection and building on experiences1,2 .

The last item on the day’s programme was a friendly competition, where trainees were assessed on a one-to-one basis by independent assessors who measured their basic suturing skills against standardised, pre-agreed marksheets to avoid bias. The top three winners won a gift voucher to attend the Foundation Trainees Surgical Society National Conference held in Edinburgh on 23 July.

The competition was a great way to incentivise trainees throughout the day. The course reinforces “motivation to learn = expectancy of success x value of success”3,4 .

Informal feedback from Faculty and delegates was hugely positive, and we await collated online feedback from the College. One attendee welcomed the opportunity to practise basic suturing skills under close supervision, adding: “The element of a competition made it even more exciting.”

As a team member and course lead, I felt the event gave a taste of surgery and provided aspiring surgeons the chance to develop their skills. The competetive element inspired the trainees and gave individuals the opportunity to shine.

FRAMEWORK FOR EXCELLENCE The RCSEd provides a supportive framework, guiding trainees in constructing courses under senior consultant supervision and getting

Nakulan Nantha Kumar Academic Foundation Doctor, University Hospitals of North Midlands, on behalf of FTSS of the West Midlands

A Faculty member demonstrates how to suture abdominal drains

Is your course RCSEd accredited?

TIIEROYAL COLLEGE OF "SURGEONS Bill OF EDINBURGH

The RCSEd has a long-standing reputation for offering the highest standards of surgical education and training both nationally and internationally. As part of our commitment to maintaining and improving these standards, the College offers an accreditation service, which allows an external educational activity to undergo our rigorous internal quality assurance process.

With an ever-increasing range of educational activities to choose from, the marker of RCSEd accreditation provides those seeking a course with the reassurance that a particular activity meets the same exacting quality standards as courses within the College’s educational portfolio. Course accreditation provides a number of benefits: Assurance for prospective attendees that the • course meets our exacting quality standards. Use of the RCSEd logo on marketing and • certificates. Support and feedback on course design and • delivery. Use of “accredited by the Royal College of •

Surgeons of Edinburgh” on course material. Listing on RCSEd Accredited Courses on the •

College website. Award of CPD points for the course (up to six CPD • points per day).

I felt the course gave a taste of surgery and provided an opportunity for practice for

keen budding surgeons ''

the plan accredited. The College also provided an efficient booking system – a logistical life-saver – and, more importantly, a fabulous team of managers who offered advice along the way.

Accreditation was a key step in organising the course because it ensured the training adhered to gold standards set by RCSEd.

The process entailed designing and submitting a detailed plan of the event programme, setting learning outcomes and creating a step-by-step approach for how each would be achieved during the course.

This meticulous planning ensured that the course ran smoothly on the day and was a memorable experience for both attendees and Faculty.

By sharing our experiences from the West Midlands, we hope to inspire future surgeons to take part in organising learning events. These help shape the future of surgery by inspiring the surgeons of tomorrow.

I would like to thank the organising committee of this event,

References

–. Kolb D. E––––––––––– ––arning. Engle– ––– Cliffs, NJ: Pr–––––––––––– ––––– –. K–––––ar RA, T–– – ate O–. AM last page: Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire: Self–––––––––––––– –––––y and motiv––––– in medical students. Acad Med –013; 8–– ––– ––. Weiner B. Human ––––––––––– ––– –––––s, theorie–– and ––––––ch. –– –––– – –ark, C– : S–GE; 1–––––. T–ylor DC, Hamdy H. – dult le–––––– –––––––s: implications –or learning and ––aching in medical education: AMEE Guide No. 83. Med Teach 2013; 35– –––61––––––Learning the principles of safe needle handling

Sriram Rajagopalan, Rebecca Lefroy, Tahir Khaleeq, Yanish Poolovadoo, Mrithula Shivakumar, Alicia Halsall, Dhanya Lakxmi, Christopher Swift and Sufia Laulloo. Without their support it would not have been possible.