Effect of the ACGME duty hours restrictions on surgical residents and faculty: a systematic review

A cross sectional survey on burnout and career satisfaction in surgeons: a joint work from the SAGES quality, outcomes, and safety and reimaging the practice of surgery burnout task forces

INTRODUCTION

The growth of surgeon burnout is of significant concern. As we work to reimagine the practice of surgery, an accurate understanding of the extent of surgeon burnout is essential. Our goal was to define the current prevalence of burnout and quality of life (QOL) among SAGES surgeons.

METHODOLOGY

An electronic survey was administered to SAGES members to establish a current baseline for QOL, burnout, depression, and career satisfaction. To assess outcomes, we utilized the validated Maslach Burnout Inventory for Medical Personnel, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders. All scoring followed validated norm-based methods.

RESULTS

Of 4194 active members, 604 responded (14.40%). 69% met burnout threshold, with high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment. 81% reported "being at the end of their rope", 74% felt emotionally drained, and 65% felt used up daily. Nearly all maintained caring about what happened to their patients (96%), easily understanding how their patients feel (84.3%) and being capable of dealing effectively with their patient's problems (87.6%). However, respondents never, rarely, or occasionally felt energetic (77.5%) or experienced a sense of professional accomplishment (57.8%). The overall QOL score was 69/100, with lower Mental than Physical scores (62.69 (SD 10.20) vs.77.27 (SD 22.24)). More than half of respondents met depression criteria. While 77% supported they would become a physician again, less than half would choose surgery again or recommend surgery to their children. Furthermore, less than a third felt work allowed sufficient time for their personal lives.

CONCLUSIONS

Participating SAGES surgeons reported alarmingly high rates of burnout and depression. Despite experiencing emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, they maintained a strong commitment to patient care. These findings likely reflect the broader state of surgeons, underscoring the urgent need for action to address this critical issue.

The introduction of a 42 + 4 h work week for surgical residents in Switzerland - a stakeholder analysis

BACKGROUND

The Swiss national union of residents and attendings (VSAO) has voiced its desire for a transition from the current 48 h work week to a 42 + 4 h work week, in which 42 h be focused on patient care with the remaining 4 h be dedicated solely to training purposes. This could potentially result in a significant decrease in surgical education time. The current study seeks to address the issues involved in its implementation as well as possible compensatory mechanisms.

METHODS

This mixed methods study seeks to clearly underline the challenges associated with the implementation of a 42 + 4 h work week. First, the major stakeholders were identified and analysed via umbrella review. Thereafter, a classic stakeholder analysis was performed. Via morphological matrix, possible models for the implementation of a 42 + 4 h work week were developed and evaluated. Finally, representatives from the identified stakeholder groups were interviewed and given the opportunity to provide feedback.

RESULTS

A total of 26 articles were identified by the literature search and were used to identify the major stakeholders and issues involved in the implementation of the desired work hour regulation. Overall, these showed conflicting results with regard to the effect decreased working hours would have on surgical training and patient outcomes. In the end, the morphological matrix produced three feasible and desirable models for the implementation of a 42 + 4 h work week. Each included compensatory mechanisms like auxiliary staff, reduction in administrative tasks, and a switch to EPAs. In their interviews, the stakeholders generally supported these solutions.

CONCLUSION

Given the increasing emphasis on the importance of a positive work-life balance, it seems inevitable that the next few years will see the introduction of a 42 + 4 h work week in Switzerland. However, it is imperative that every effort be made to preserve the quality of training and patient care for the next generations. This will require the cooperation of all stakeholders in order to find workable solutions.

Quality Metrics and Indicators for Surgical Training: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Surgical training quality is critical to ensure that trainees receive adequate preparation to perform surgical procedures independently and that patients receive safe, effective, and high-quality care. Numerous surgical training quality indicators have been proposed, investigated and implemented. However, the existing evidence base for these indicators is limited, with most studies originating from English-speaking, high-income countries.

OBJECTIVES

This scoping review aimed to identify the range of quality indicators that have been proposed and evaluated in the literature, and to critically evaluate the existing evidence base for these indicators.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE and Embase databases to identify studies reporting on surgical training quality indicators. A total of 68 articles were included in the review.

RESULTS

Operative volume is the most commonly cited indicator and has been investigated for its effects on trainee exam performance and career progression. Other indicators include operative diversity, workplace-based assessments, regular evaluation and feedback, academic achievements, formal teaching, and learning agreements, and direct observation of procedural skills. However, these indicators are largely based on qualitative analyses and expert opinions and have not been validated quantitatively using clear outcome measures for trainees and patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Future research is necessary to establish evidence-based indicators of high-quality surgical training, including in low-resource settings. Quantitative and qualitative studies are required to validate existing indicators and to identify new indicators that are relevant to diverse surgical training environments. Lastly, any approach to surgical training quality must prioritize the benefit to both trainees and patients, ensuring training success, career progression, and patient safety.

Routine Assessment of Surgical Resident Wellness-Related Concerns During Biannual Review

BACKGROUND

Surgery residency confers stress burdens on trainees. To monitor and mitigate areas of concerns, our education team implemented a 6-item biannual survey querying potential stressors. We reviewed the initial 5-year experience to assess for trends and improve efforts in maintaining resident well-being.

STUDY DESIGN

Surgery residents from all postgraduate years were asked to complete a survey of common concerns, prioritizing them in order of importance. The items to be ranked were: needs of family/friends; nonwork time for study; financial concerns; personal well-being needs; concerns for clinical performance; and administrative demands. Changes in ranking were trended across 10 review periods. Results were analyzed using a Kruskal-Wallis test.

RESULTS

A completion rate of 96.5% was rendered from the completion of 333 surveys. Rankings changed significantly for nonwork time for study (p = 0.04), personal well-being needs (p = 0.03) and concerns for clinical performance (p = 0.004). Nonwork time for study and concerns on clinical performance were consistently ranked as top two stressors over study period, except for spring 2020. Personal well-being needs ranked highest in spring 2020; 41% of residents placed this as top 2 rankings. A decrease in concerns for clinical performance was observed in spring 2020, corresponding to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic emergency declaration.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery residents generally prioritized time for study and concerns for assessment of clinical performance as highest areas of concern. With the occurrence of a pandemic, increased prioritization of personal well-being was observed. Used routinely with biannual reviews, the survey was able to identify plausible changes in resident concerns. Determination of levels of actual stress and actual association with the pandemic requires additional study.

A narrative review of the impact of work hours and insufficient rest on job performance

OBJECTIVE

This review discusses the scientific evidence regarding effects of insufficient rest on clinical performance and house officer training programs, the associations of clinical duty scheduling with insufficient rest, and the implications for risk management.

STUDY DESIGN

Narrative review.

METHODS

Several literature searches using broad terms such as "sleep deprivation," "veterinary," "physician," and "surgeon" were performed using PubMed and Google scholar.

RESULTS

Sleep deprivation and insufficient rest have clear and deleterious effects on job performance, which in healthcare occupations impacts patient safety and practice function. The unique requirements of a career in veterinary surgery, which may include on-call shifts and overnight work, can lead to distinct sleep challenges and chronic insufficient rest with resultant serious but often poorly recognized impacts. These effects negatively impact practices, teams, surgeons, and patients. The self-assessment of fatigue and performance effect is demonstrably untrustworthy, reinforcing the need for institution-level protections. While the issues are complex and there is no one-size-fits-all approach, duty hour or workload restrictions may be an important first step in addressing these issues within veterinary surgery, as it has been in human medicine.

CONCLUSION

Systematic re-examination of cultural expectations and practice logistics are needed if improvement in working hours, clinician well-being, productivity, and patient safety are to occur.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE (OR IMPACT)

A more comprehensive understanding of the magnitude and consequence of sleep-related impairment better enables surgeons and hospital management to address systemic challenges in veterinary practice and training programs.

The impact of a night float system on operative experience in neurosurgery residency

OBJECTIVE

Since the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) implemented duty-hour restrictions in 2003, many residency programs have adopted a night float system to comply with time constraints. However, some surgical subspecialities have been concerned that use of a night float system deprives residents of operative experience. In this study, the authors describe their training program's transition to a night float system and its impact on resident operative experience.

METHODS

The authors conducted a single-program study of resident surgical case volume before and after implementing the night float system at 3 of their 5 hospitals from 2014 to 2020. The authors obtained surgical case numbers from the ACGME case log database.

RESULTS

Junior residents received a concentrated educational experience, whereas senior residents saw a significant decrease from 112 calls/year to 17. Logged cases significantly increased after implementation of the night float system (8846 vs 10,547, p = 0.04), whereas cases at non-night float hospitals remained the same. This increase was concurrent with an increase in hospital cases. This difference was mainly driven by senior resident cases (p = 0.010), as junior and chief residents did not show significant differences in logged cases (p > 0.40). Lead resident cases increased significantly after implementation of the night float system (6852 vs 8860, p = 0.04). When normalized for increased hospital cases, resident case increases were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Transitioning to a night float call system at the authors' institution increased overall resident operative cases, particularly for lead resident surgeons. Based on the results of this study, the authors recommend the use of a night float call system to consolidate night calls, which increases junior resident-level educational opportunities and senior resident cases.

Urology Residents’ Perspectives on the In-House On-Call Systems: A Study in an Accredited Academic Center

Introduction: Medical education and training are crucial in maintaining patients’ safety and improving patient care quality. Multiple studies have evaluated the effects of restrictive policies on the resident's quality of life and education. Due to the compiling data and the fact that these trials evaluated programs with a substantial number of residents, it remains uncertain whether these conclusions can be extended to urology programs with a small number of residents. Multiple on-call systems have been adopted in residency programs across the world. This study evaluated the residents’ quality of life, clinical experience, and education upon transitioning from 24-hour to 12-hour in-house on-call systems.

Methods and materials: In this observational and questionnaire-based study, the effect of the transition from 24-hour to 12-hour in-house on-call systems was compared in terms of the resident's quality of life and education, surgical case volume, and working hours’ rules compliance.

Quality of life and education: We adopted a validated survey based on a 5-point Likert scale to assess the residents’ perception of the transition to a 12-hour on-call system on their quality of life and education.

Surgical case volume: We extracted the number of cases the residents operated on from the operating theater database at our institution.

Working hours: compliance and violations: The weekly working hours, compliance, and violations per ACGME-I rules were collected from the MedHub platform.

Results: Quality of life and education: Residents rated the 12-hour on-call system superior in terms of quality of life, education, and surgical case volume.

Surgical case volume: There was a 45% increment in the surgical case volume (p = 0.04) with the 12-hour on-call system.

Working hours: compliance and violations

There was no significant difference in the mean weekly working hours (p = 0.1). However, the total number of duty hours violations decreased in the 12-hour on-call system.

Conclusion: The 12-hour system is a better alternative to the 24-hour system in terms of the resident's quality of life, education, surgical case volume, and compliance with duty hour rules.

Pulling Back from the Brink: A Multi-Pronged Approach to Address General Surgery Resident Clinical Work Hour Adherence

PURPOSE

The conflict between prioritizing education for surgical trainees, promoting trainee wellness, and maintaining optimal patient care has remained challenging since the introduction of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) work hour restrictions in 2003. There is still a dearth of research examining which interventions successfully enable duty hour adherence. This study assessed the impact of a combination of strategic interventions on improving clinical work hour adherence.

METHODS

Monthly clinical work hour submission rates were assessed for all general surgery residents at a single university-based residency program over a 3-year period (2018-2021). Interventions targeted 3 domains and were implemented between academic years 2018 to 2019 (control) and 2020 to 2021 (intervention): 1) improving the accuracy and transparency of work hour reporting, 2) facilitating more timely interventions, and 3) structural scheduling changes. All 80-hour work week and continuous work hour violations were assessed. Findings were also compared to the corresponding ACGME Resident Survey results.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the rate of monthly work hour submissions pre- and postintervention (78% vs 75%, p = 0.057). However, the number of total reported monthly violations decreased significantly (mean 13.8 vs 2.4, p < 0.01), including decreases in both 80-hour work week and continuous work hour violations (mean 4.7 vs 1.6, p < 0.001 and 9.1 vs 0.8, p < 0.001, respectively). Reported compliance also increased on the annual ACGME resident surveys, where 61% vs 95% of residents felt they were compliant with the 80-hour work week and 71% vs 95% felt they were compliant with the continuous work hours (2018-19 vs 2020-21).

CONCLUSION

Innovative strategies addressing schedule changes, the culture of work hour reporting, and early intervention significantly decreased the number of duty hour violations at our institution. Reported resident compliance also improved based on ACGME Resident Survey data. These data may inform similar multifaceted approaches at other institutions to improve overall work hour adherence.

Educational Experience Impacts Wellness More than Hours Worked

OBJECTIVE

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has focused its interests on resident wellbeing and the clinical work environment in recent years. Concerns regarding both duty hours as well as service obligations versus education resulted in programs nationwide receiving citations, including ours. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of those 2 factors on surgical residents' general wellbeing, hypothesizing that service obligations would be a stronger predictor.

DESIGN

We have previously reported on the use of a "Fuel Gauge" tool developed at our institution for monitoring resident wellbeing. We performed a retrospective comparison of prospectively collected cross-sectional survey data comparing the Fuel Gauge to a bimonthly "Service Versus Education" (SVE) report. This report used similar scaling and allowed residents to provide feedback on the balance of the educational quality of their current rotation in comparison to their perception of service obligation. Pearson's correlation was then used to compare those scores with duty hour logs to determine if a relationship could be identified between the 3 measurements.

SETTING

Academic institution of the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, Texas.

PARTICIPANTS

Active general surgery residents (n = 73).

RESULTS

During the study period, 73 residents filled out both a Fuel Gauge assessment and a SVE assessment at least once, with 273 complete data points available for analysis. Our program's Fuel Gauge median was 4, and our program's median SVE score was 4. Fuel Gauge assessment scores demonstrated a moderate positive correlation with SVE (r = 0.65, p < 0.001), while only a weakly negative association with increasing hours worked (r = -0.15, p = 0.015). SVE also demonstrated a weak negative correlation with hours logged (r = -0.225, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

While the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education recognizes that multiple factors contribute to resident wellbeing issues, early efforts were focused on limiting excessive duty hours. Examining our institutional data regarding the previously understudied factor of SVE, we indeed found a stronger correlation with resident perception of low educational value rather than excessive work hours contributing to lower Fuel Gauge scores. These data, if verified, should guide program directors in identifying other institutional factors that may more strongly contribute to their own culture of resident wellness.

Scoring metrics for assessing skills in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: performance comparison study of novice and expert surgeons

PURPOSE

We aim to develop quantitative performance metrics and a deep learning model to objectively assess surgery skills between the novice and the expert surgeons for arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery. These proposed metrics can be used to give the surgeon an objective and a quantitative self-assessment platform.

METHODS

Ten shoulder arthroscopic rotator cuff surgeries were performed by two novices, and fourteen were performed by two expert surgeons. These surgeries were statistically analyzed. Two existing evaluation systems: Basic Arthroscopic Knee Skill Scoring System (BAKSSS) and the Arthroscopic Surgical Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET), were used to validate our proposed metrics. In addition, a deep learning-based model called Automated Arthroscopic Video Evaluation Tool (AAVET) was developed toward automating quantitative assessments.

RESULTS

The results revealed that novice surgeons used surgical tools approximately 10% less effectively and identified and stopped bleeding less swiftly. Our results showed a notable difference in the performance score between the experts and novices, and our metrics successfully identified these at the task level. Moreover, the F1-scores of each class are found as 78%, 87%, and 77% for classifying cases with no-tool, electrocautery, and shaver tool, respectively.

CONCLUSION

We have constructed quantitative metrics that identified differences in the performances of expert and novice surgeons. Our ultimate goal is to validate metrics further and incorporate these into our virtual rotator cuff surgery simulator (ViRCAST), which has been under development. The initial results from AAVET show that the capability of the toolbox can be extended to create a fully automated performance evaluation platform.

Demonstrating Excellence in Plastic Surgery Residency

Background:

Residents can achieve distinction by discerning which areas of achievement are worth additional focus at each stage in training. Our survey examines the perspectives of faculty members affiliated with Accreditation Council for Graduation Medical Education–accredited plastic surgery residency programs regarding qualities indicative of resident excellence.

Methods:

A survey including Likert scales and rank-ordering was distributed to plastic surgery program directors and faculty with the intent to assess perspectives regarding resident excellence at each stage of training. Responses were analyzed using marginal homogeneity tests and summary tables.

Results:

In total, 90 respondents completed the survey. An estimated 94.5% believe it is possible for residents to achieve excellence at any stage of clinical training, and 87.7% report their definition of excellence differs by training level. Top three metrics indicative of resident excellence for interns and junior residents were preparation for operative cases, bedside manner, and personality. For seniors: preparation for operative cases, leadership capability, and bedside manner. For chief residents: preparation for operative cases, leadership capability, and technical operative expertise.

Conclusions:

A resident who displays excellence inspires mentorship, which can propel future career success. Faculty agree excellence can be achieved by residents of any stage, although the qualities that define this evolve by training year. Preparation for operative cases is considered a critical component of resident performance at all levels. Bedside manner and personality are ways intern and junior level residents excel, whereas leadership ability and technical expertise in the operating room become significant in senior and chief trainees.

ACGME 2011 Duty Hours Restrictions and Their Effects on Surgical Residency Training and Patients Outcomes: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

The ACGME instituted the 2011 residency duty-hour restrictions (DHR) to increase resident well-being and patient safety. However, its eventual remodeling came after patient care was deemed unaffected. We aimed to identify the effects of the ACGME 2011-DHR on (1) patient outcomes, (2) surgical resident case volume, and (3) surgical resident quality of life.

DESIGN

Literature search using Google Scholar, PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase for publications between 2010 and 2020, on the 2011-DHR effects on resident and patient outcomes. Studies containing the number of cases performed during training, quality of life, and surgical patients' outcomes were included.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria. There was no difference in complication rates for surgical patients post 2011-DHR (p = 0.561). 2011-DHR caused surgical caseload shifts from interns to senior residents reflected by decreased operative cases for interns (p = 0.005) with significantly more total cases performed by chief residents (p = 0.0006). Pre-2011-DHR had more work flexibility that led to higher resident well-being (p = 0.01). Only 25% of residents approved of the 2011-DHR while 87% felt these restrictions would have adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

Current literature supports that the 2011-DHR did not improve patient outcomes, decreased surgical experience for junior residents and shifted clinical responsibilities to senior residents. System wide regulations such as the 2011-DHR may unintentionally create professional and personal life imbalance and introduce stress over resident inability to perform clinical responsibilities. Future systemic interventions to address resident well-being should be made with caution and not solely limited to the number of hours they work in a single week or in a single shift.

Reimagining the IR Workflow for a Better Work-Life Balance

Several workflow changes were implemented in a large academic interventional radiology practice, including separation of inpatient and outpatient services, early start times, and using an adaptive learning system to predict case length tailored to individual physicians. Metrics including procedural volume, on-time start, accuracy at predicting case length, and room shutdown time were assessed before and after the intervention. Considerable improvements were seen in accuracy of first case start times, predicting block times, and last case encounter ending times. It is proposed that with improved role clarity, interventional radiologists can regain control over their schedules, utilize work hours more efficiently, and improve work-life balance.

The Role of Senior Resident Clinics in Plastic Surgery Education in Canada

Background

Senior resident clinics are a means to encourage independent practice and problem solving and enhance surgical skills. The objective of this study is to investigate senior resident clinics across Canada and their utility in providing comprehensive plastic surgery training.

Methods

A web-based survey was sent to all plastic surgery program directors (PDs) and senior residents (SRs; postgraduate years 3, 4, and 5) across Canada. The surveys focused on demographics, clinic structure, procedures commonly performed, perceived autonomy, educational benefit, competency-based design considerations, and areas for improvement. Chi-square tests were used to compare responses between PDs and SRs.

Results

A total of 10 PDs (100% response rate) and 26 SRs (41% response rate) responded. Half of the training programs across Canada currently have senior clinics, and the format varies between institutions. Clinics generally focus on hand trauma and aesthetics. Both PDs and SRs felt that there is considerable autonomy for resident care in both the pre/post-operative and operative setting. Common barriers to implementing a senior clinic include not enough staff, not enough time, and the medicolegal risk. Most core competencies are felt to be addressed through the use of senior clinics. Methods to improve senior clinics could include more regular and higher volume clinics, enhanced equipment, and separation of hand and aesthetics clinics.

Conclusions

Senior clinics are a useful method to improve plastic surgery education and address many core aspects of plastic surgery training. Implementation of supported clinics focused on hand and aesthetics surgery separately may be useful for training programs that currently lack a senior clinic.

Addressing fatigue in medical residents with biomathematical fatigue modeling

Fatigue in resident physicians has been identified as a factor that contributes to burnout and a decline in overall wellbeing. Fatigue risk exists because of poor sleep habits and demanding work schedules that have only increased due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. At this time, it is important not to lose sight of how fatigue can impact residents and how fatigue risk can be mitigated. While fatigue mitigation is currently addressed by duty hour restrictions and education about fatigue, Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMSs) offer a more comprehensive strategy for addressing these issues. An important component of FRMS in other shiftwork industries, such as aviation and trucking, is the use of biomathematical models to prospectively identify fatigue risk in work schedules. Such an approach incorporates decades of knowledge of sleep and circadian rhythm research into shift schedules, taking into account not just duty hour restrictions but the temporal placement of work schedules. Recent research has shown that biomathematical models of fatigue can be adapted to a resident physician population and can help address fatigue risk. Such models do not require subject matter experts and can be applied in graduate medical education program shift scheduling. It is important for graduate medical education program providers to consider these alternative methods of fatigue mitigation. These tools can help reduce fatigue risk and may improve wellness as they allow for a more precise fatigue management strategy without reducing overall work hours.

Translating and validating a Japanese version of the Patient Care Ownership Scale: a multicenter cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Patient care ownership (PCO) is an essential component in medical professionalism and is crucial for delivering high-quality care. The 15-item PCO Scale (PCOS) is a validated questionnaire for quantifying PCO in residents; however, no corresponding tool for assessing PCO in Japan exists. This study aimed to develop a Japanese version of the PCOS (J-PCOS) and validate it among Japanese medical trainees.

METHODS

We performed a multicenter cross-sectional survey to test the validity and reliability of the J-PCOS. The study sample was trainees of postgraduate years 1-5 in Japan. The participants completed the J-PCOS questionnaire. Construct validity was assessed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Internal consistency reliability was examined by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficients and inter-item correlations.

RESULTS

During the survey period, 437 trainees at 48 hospitals completed the questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis of the J-PCOS extracted four factors: assertiveness, sense of ownership, diligence, and being the "go-to" person. The second factor had not been identified in the original PCOS, which may be related to a unique cultural feature of Japan, namely, a historical code of personal conduct. Confirmatory factor analysis supported this four-factor model, revealing good model fit indices. The analysis results of Cronbach's alpha coefficients and inter-item correlations indicated adequate internal consistency reliability.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed the J-PCOS and examined its validity and reliability. This tool can be used in studies on postgraduate medical education. Further studies should confirm its robustness and usefulness for improving PCO.

Sleepy Surgeons: A Multi-Method Assessment of Sleep Deprivation and Performance in Surgery

BACKGROUND

Minimum rest is mandated in high stake industries such as aviation. The current system of healthcare provision permits on-call surgeons to work in sleep deprived states when performing procedures. Fatigue has been demonstrated to negatively affect performance. This study aimed to explore measurements of sleep deprivation and their impact on simulated performance.

METHODS

This was a single site study conducted between September 2019 and February 2020. Surgical trainee and consultants were conveniently sampled from a single site. All testing was done between 7 AM and 9 AM. Participants completed electroencephalogram testing using a modified Multiple Sleep Latency Test testing for objective sleep measurement, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Chalder Fatigue Scale and Epworth Sleepiness Scale for subjective sleep measurement. The Psychomotor Vigilance Task and the SIMENDO simulated tasks were used for standardized performance assessment.

RESULTS

Surgeons entered sleep in 6 min, on average pre-call. This significantly decreased to an average of 164 s post-call (P = 0.016). Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scoring was 5, indicating poor baseline sleep quality. There was higher self-reported fatigue and sleepiness in post-call states. Performance decrements were noted in cognitive performance reaction time and aspects of technical instrument proficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgeons are objectively sleep deprived pre-call according to internationally recognized guidelines. This sleep deprivation increases significantly in post-call states. Tasks with higher cognitive demands showed greater levels of diminished performance compared to those with lower cognitive demands. Current models of provision of surgical on-call are not conducive to optimizing sleep in surgeons. Prioritization of workload in post-call states, focusing on preserving individuals cognitive resources and utilizing lower cognitively demanding aspects of work is likely to have positive impacts on performance outcomes.

Anesthesiology Residents' Experiences and Perspectives of Residency Training

BACKGROUND

Anesthesiology residents' experiences and perspectives about their programs may be helpful in improving training. The goals of this repeated cross-sectional survey study are to determine: (1) the most important factors residents consider in choosing an anesthesiology residency, (2) the aspects of the clinical base year that best prepare residents for anesthesia clinical training, and what could be improved, (3) whether residents are satisfied with their anesthesiology residency and what their primary struggles are, and (4) whether residents believe their residency prepares them for proficiency in the 6 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Core Competencies and for independent practice.

METHODS

Anesthesiologists beginning their US residency training from 2013 to 2016 were invited to participate in anonymous, confidential, and voluntary self-administered online surveys. Resident cohort was defined by clinical anesthesia year 1, such that 9 survey administrations were included in this study-3 surveys for the 2013 and 2014 cohorts (clinical anesthesia years 1-3), 2 surveys for the 2015 cohort (clinical anesthesia years 1-2), and 1 survey for the 2016 cohort (clinical anesthesia year 1).

RESULTS

The overall response rate was 36% (4707 responses to 12,929 invitations). On a 5-point Likert scale with 1 as "very unimportant" and 5 as "very important," quality of clinical experience (4.7-4.8 among the cohorts) and departmental commitment to education (4.3-4.5) were rated as the most important factors in anesthesiologists' choice of residency. Approximately 70% of first- and second-year residents agreed that their clinical base year prepared them well for anesthesiology residency, particularly clinical training experiences in critical care rotations, anesthesiology rotations, and surgery rotations/perioperative procedure management. Overall, residents were satisfied with their choice of anesthesiology specialty (4.4-4.5 on a 5-point scale among cohort-training levels) and their residency programs (4.0-4.1). The residency training experiences mostly met their expectations (3.8-4.0). Senior residents who reported any struggles highlighted academic more than interpersonal or technical difficulties. Senior residents generally agreed that the residency adequately prepared them for independent practice (4.1-4.4). Of the 6 ACGME Core Competencies, residents had the highest confidence in professionalism (4.7-4.9) and interpersonal and communication skills (4.6-4.8). Areas in residency that could be improved include the provision of an appropriate balance between education and service and allowance for sufficient time off to search and interview for a postresidency position.

CONCLUSIONS

Anesthesiology residents in the United States indicated they most value quality of clinical training experiences and are generally satisfied with their choice of specialty and residency program.

Does Increased Schedule Flexibility Lead to Change? A National Survey of Program Directors on 2017 Work Hours Requirements

BACKGROUND

The learning and working environment for resident physicians shifted dramatically over the past two decades, with increased focus on work hours, resident wellness, and patient safety. Following two multi-center randomized trials comparing 16-h work limits for PGY-1 trainees to more flexible rules, the ACGME implemented new flexible work hours standards in 2017.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine program directors' (PDs) support for the work hour changes and programmatic response.

DESIGN

In 2017, US Internal Medicine PDs were surveyed about their degree of support for extension of PGY-1 work hour limits, whether they adopted the new maximum continuous work hours permitted, and reasons for their decisions.

KEY RESULTS

The response rate was 70% (266/379). Fifty-seven percent of PDs (n = 151) somewhat/strongly support the new work hour rules for PGY-1 residents, while only 25% of programs (N = 66) introduced work periods greater than 16-h on any rotation. Higher rates of adopting change were seen in PDs who strongly/somewhat supported the change (56/151 [37%], P < 0.001), had tenure of 6+ years (33/93 [35%], P = 0.005), were of non-general internal medicine subspecialty (30/80 [38%], P = 0.003), at university-based programs (35/101 [35%], P = 0.009), and with increasing number of approved positions (< 38, 10/63 [16%]; 38-58, 13/69 [19%]; 59-100, 15/64 [23%]; > 100, 28/68 [41%], P = 0.005). Areas with the greatest influence for PDs not extending work hours were the 16-h rule working well (56%) and risk to PGY1 well-being (47%).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the majority of PDs support the ACGME 2017 work hours rules, only 25% of programs made immediate changes to extend hours. These data reveal that complex, often competing, forces influence PDs' decisions to change trainee schedules.

Burnout Levels and Patterns in Postgraduate Medical Trainees: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

Postgraduate medical trainees experience high rates of burnout; however, inconsistencies in definitions of burnout characterize this literature. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis examining burnout levels and patterns in postgraduate medical trainees, using a continuous conceptualization of burnout, consistent with the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) framework.

METHOD

The authors searched 5 electronic databases (Cochrane Library, Embase, ERIC, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid PsycINFO) between January 1981 and July 2019 for studies reporting postgraduate medical trainees' burnout levels using the MBI-Human Services Survey. They examined study reporting quality using the QualSyst quality appraisal tool and calculated standardized mean differences (Hedges' g), comparing trainees' data with MBI norms for medicine and the overall population using a random effects model. They explored between-study heterogeneity using subgroup analyses (i.e., by training level and specialty). Finally, they studied the combined contribution of these 2 variables (and year of study publication) to burnout levels, using meta-regression.

RESULTS

The authors identified 2,978 citations and included 89 independent studies in their review. They pooled the data for the 18,509 postgraduate trainees included in these studies for the meta-analyses. Reporting quality was generally high across the included studies. The meta-analyses revealed higher burnout levels among trainees compared with medicine and overall population norms, particularly for the depersonalization subscale. The authors also identified statistically significant differences between nonsurgical and surgical registrars (specialty trainees), with trainees from 12 individual specialties exhibiting unique burnout patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a need to reduce and prevent burnout early in medical training. Given the differences in burnout levels and patterns across specialties, interventions must focus on the unique patterns exhibited by each specialty in the target population using a multidimensional approach. Standardizing the definition of burnout in accordance with the MBI framework will facilitate progression of this work.

Exploring the evolving concept of 'patient ownership' in the era of resident duty hour regulations-experience of residents and faculty in an internal medicine night float system

BACKGROUND

Despite the use of 'patient ownership' as an embodiment of professionalism and increasing concerns over its loss among trainees, how its development in residents has been affected by duty hour regulations has not been well described. In this qualitative study, we aim to outline the key features of patient ownership in internal medicine, factors enabling its development, and how these have been affected by the adoption of a night float system to comply with duty hour regulations.

METHODS

In this qualitative descriptive study, we interviewed 18 residents and 12 faculty internists at one university centre and conducted a thematic analysis of the data focused on the concept of patient ownership.

RESULTS

We identified three key features of patient ownership: personal concern for patients, professional capacity for autonomous decision-making, and knowledge of patients' issues. Within the context of a night float system, factors that facilitate development of patient ownership include improved fitness for duty and more consistent interactions with patients/families resulting from working the same shift over consecutive days (or nights). Conversely, the increase in patient handovers, if done poorly, is a potential threat to patient ownership development. Trainees often struggle to develop ownership when autonomy is not supported with supervision and when role-modelling by faculty is lacking.

DISCUSSION

These features of patient ownership can be used to frame discussions when coaching trainees. Residency programs should be mindful of the downstream effects of shift-based scheduling. We propose strategies to optimize factors that enable trainee development of patient ownership.

The Change in Surgical Case Diversity over the past 15 Years and the Influence on the Pursuit of Surgical Fellowship

The surgical community has expressed concern that residents do not receive the same caliber training as their predecessors and the increase in fellowships have been described as secondary to perceived lack of preparation. Yet, data show no change in total cases even after implementation of the 80-hour workweek. It is hypothesized that the increasing subspecialization of general surgery may decrease in certain resident case numbers. Data were collected from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) General Surgery Case Logs National Data Report (1999–2014) of mean number of procedures per resident for 19 surgical categories. Statistical analysis was performed with analysis of variance over three time periods between 1999 and 2014. The number of total cases performed by residents has not changed significantly. There was a statistically significant difference observed in the variety of cases: vascular, esophageal, breast, and trauma cases decreased (P < 0.01), whereas major intestinal, hernia, liver, pancreatic, and biliary cases increased (P < 0.01). There are many reasons to pursue additional training after residency. The demonstrated change in case variability, presumably secondary to increasing fellowships, may play a significant role on training and preparation. Close monitoring of curriculums is essential to ensure a comprehensive general surgical education.

Beyond 250: A Comprehensive Strategy to Maximize the Operative Experience for Junior Residents

OBJECTIVES

Among surgical educators, duty-hour restrictions led to concern regarding the adequacy of operative experience during residency, especially for junior residents. The American Board of Surgery recently instituted guidelines mandating "a minimum of 250 operations by the end of the PGY-2 year". A series of programmatic and institutional changes were implemented at our institution to augment the junior resident operative experience and to exceed compliance with this mandate.

METHODS

Operative data from Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education case logs for categorical and nondesignated preliminary interns from our large academic surgical residency were identified for 5 consecutive academic years, 2011 until 2016. American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) scores were collected anonymously. The program systematically instituted the following changes: night float minimization, identification of new surgical opportunities, augmenting use of midlevel care providers, identification of rotations with suboptimal operative experiences, maximizing rotations with involvement of junior residents in the operating room, and systematic review of junior case logs.

RESULTS

After implementation, average total cases for residents completing postgraduate year (PGY)-2 increased from 176 to 330 (p < 0.001). Specifically, there was an 18% increase for interns (p = 0.059) and a 118% increase for PGY-2 residents (p < 0.001). There were statistically significant increases in skin and soft tissue cases, vascular cases, endoscopy, and complex laparoscopic cases. Average case volumes for senior residents did not change. Night float time was significantly decreased (5.7 vs 3.4 wk; p = 0.04). ABSITE scores were not significantly changed during this time.

CONCLUSIONS

Before implementation of these interventions, our program would have had 0% compliance with the 250 junior resident case rule. Within 12 months of implementation, total case volumes for residents completing PGY-2 increased by 88%-exceeding minimum standards. Overall, 100% programmatic compliance was achieved. Our program's experience exemplifies how mandates from the American Board of Surgery can lead to programmatic changes that improve the experience of surgical house officers.

Downward Trend in Pediatric Resident Laryngoscopy Participation in PICUs

OBJECTIVES

As of July 2013, pediatric resident trainee guidelines in the United States no longer require proficiency in nonneonatal tracheal intubation. We hypothesized that laryngoscopy by pediatric residents has decreased over time, with a more pronounced decrease after this guideline change.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Twenty-five PICUs at various children's hospitals across the United States.

PATIENTS

Tracheal intubations performed in PICUs from July 2010 to June 2016 in the multicenter tracheal intubation database (National Emergency Airway Registry for Children).

INTERVENTION

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Prospective cohort study in which all primary tracheal intubations occurring in the United States from July 2010 to June 2016 in the multicenter tracheal intubation database (National Emergency Airway Registry for Children) were analyzed. Participating PICU leaders were also asked to describe their local airway management training for residents. Resident participation trends over time, stratified by presence of a Pediatric Critical Care Medicine fellowship and airway training curriculum for residents, were described. A total of 9,203 tracheal intubations from 25 PICUs were reported. Pediatric residents participated in 16% of tracheal intubations as first laryngoscopists: 14% in PICUs with a Pediatric Critical Care Medicine fellowship and 34% in PICUs without one (p < 0.001). Resident participation decreased significantly over time (3.4% per year; p < 0.001). The decrease was significant in ICUs with a Pediatric Critical Care Medicine fellowship (p < 0.001) but not in ICUs without one (p = 0.73). After adjusting for site-level clustering, patient characteristics, and Pediatric Critical Care Medicine fellowship presence, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education guideline change was not associated with lower participation by residents (odds ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.59-1.24; p = 0.43). The downward trend of resident participation was similar regardless of the presence of an airway curriculum for residents.

CONCLUSION

Laryngoscopy by pediatric residents has substantially decreased over time. This downward trend was not associated with the 2013 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education change in residency requirements.

Urology residents on call: Investigating the workload and relevance of calls

INTRODUCTION

On-call medical services assumed by residents represent many hours of hard work and no studies have documented what it really entails. As part of an effort to improve our on-call system, we examined phone calls received by residents on call. Our objectives were to evaluate the characteristics of phone calls received by residents on call (who, when, why, need to go to the hospital) and to determine residents' perception of these calls. We also looked into implementing strategies to reduce unnecessary calls.

METHODS

We prospectively collected information about calls using a standardized reporting form with the participation of all residents (10) from a single urology program over two periods of four weeks from November 2014 to March 2015. Residents answered pre- and post-collecting period questionnaires.

RESULTS

A total of 460 calls were recorded on 97 on-call days in two on-call lists. There was a mean of 3.5 (median 3, range 0-12) calls per weeknight and 7.7 (median 6, range 0-23) calls per weekend full day. Nintey-three calls (20%) led to the need for bedside evaluation and many of these were for new consultations (49%). The majority of calls originated from the clinical in-patient ward (49%) and emergency room (29%), and nurses (66%) and doctors (23%) most commonly initiated the calls. Calls between 11:00 pm and 8:00 am represented 13% of all calls. Most of the calls (77%) were perceived as relevant or very relevant. Most residents reported at least 80% of calls.

CONCLUSIONS

Although likely representing an underestimate of the reality, we provide a first effort in documenting the call burden of Canadian urology residents.

Perceptions of the 2011 ACGME duty hour requirements among residents in all core programs at a large academic medical center

BACKGROUND

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) implemented revisions to resident duty hour requirements (DHRs) in 2011 to improve patient safety and resident well-being. Perceptions of DHRs have been reported to vary by training stage and specialty among internal medicine and general surgery residents. The authors explored perceptions of DHRs among all residents at a large academic medical center.

METHODS

The authors administered an anonymous cross-sectional survey about DHRs to residents enrolled in all ACGME-accredited core residency programs at their institution. Residents were categorized as medical and pediatric, surgery, or other.

RESULTS

In total, 736 residents representing 24 core specialty residency programs were surveyed. The authors received responses from 495 residents (67%). A majority reported satisfaction (78%) with DHRs and believed DHRs positively affect their training (73%). Residents in surgical specialties and in advanced stages of training were significantly less likely to view DHRs favorably. Most respondents believed fatigue contributes to errors (89%) and DHRs reduce both fatigue (80%) and performance of clinical duties while fatigued (74%). A minority of respondents (37%) believed that DHRs decrease medical errors. This finding may reflect beliefs that handovers contribute more to errors than fatigue (41%). Negative perceived effects included diminished patient familiarity and continuity of care (62%) and diminished clinical educational experiences for residents (41%).

CONCLUSIONS

A majority of residents reported satisfaction with the 2011 DHRs, although satisfaction was significantly less among residents in surgical specialties and those in advanced stages of training.

The ACGME Case Log System May Not Accurately Represent Operative Experience Among General Surgery Interns

OBJECTIVE

To assess if the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) case log system accurately captures operative experience of our postgraduate year 1 (PGY-1) residents.

DESIGN

ACGME case log information was retrospectively obtained for 5 cohorts of PGY-1 residents (2011-2015) and compared to the number of operative cases captured by an institutional automated operative case report system, Surgical Access Utility System (SAUS). SAUS automatically captures all surgical team members who are listed in the operative dictation for a given case, including interns. A paired t-test analysis was used to compare number of cases coded between the 2 systems.

SETTING

Academic, tertiary care referral center with a large general surgery training program.

PARTICIPANTS

PGY-1 general surgery trainees (interns) from the years 2011-2015.

RESULTS

Forty-nine PGY-1 general surgery residents were identified over a 5-year period. Mean operative case volume per intern, per year, captured by the automated SAUS was 176.5 ± 28.1 (SD) compared to 126.3 ± 58.0 ACGME cases logged (mean difference = 50.2 cases, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

ACGME case log data may not accurately reflect the actual operative experience of our PGY-1 residents. If such data holds true for other general surgery training programs, the true impact of duty hour regulations on operative volume may be unclear when using the ACGME case log data. This current standard approach for using ACGME case logs as a representation of operative experience requires further scrutiny and potential revision to more accurately determine operative experience for accreditation purposes.

New common program requirements for the resident physician workforce and the omission of strategic napping: A missed opportunity

OBJECTIVES

Napping has known benefits for fatigue mitigation and improved alertness. However the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) New Common Program Requirements recently removed the 16 h work limit for PGY1 residents and removed any suggestions of napping.

METHODS

We utilized a cross-sectional study design to administer a 44-item questionnaire in June 2016 to 858 residents and fellows at one large urban academic medical center. We assessed: 1) resident physician sentiment of work environment supportiveness for napping at work; and 2) agreement with 2011 ACGME guidelines on workweek hour limitations and strategic napping recommendations.

RESULTS

While 89% of residents reported access to an on-call room at work, only 20% felt their work environment supported a culture of napping while at work. Over 76% expressed agreement with the 2011 ACGME work-hour restrictions.

CONCLUSIONS

Strategies to support napping and well-being within the resident physician workforce and organizational setting are warranted.

Standardizing hysteroscopy teaching: development of a curriculum using the Delphi method

BACKGROUND

Hysteroscopy is performed often and in many indications but is challenging to learn. Hands-on training in live patients faces ethical, legal, and economic obstacles. Virtual reality simulation may hold promise as a hysteroscopy training tool. No validated curriculum specific in hysteroscopy exists. The aim of this study was to develop a hysteroscopy curriculum, using the Delphi method to identify skill requirements.

METHODS

Based on a literature review using the key words "curriculum," "simulation," and "hysteroscopy," we identified five technical and non-technical areas in which skills were required. Twenty hysteroscopy experts from different French hospital departments participated in Delphi rounds to select items in these five areas. The rounds were to be continued until 80-100% agreement was obtained for at least 60% of items. A curriculum was built based on the selected items and was evaluated in residents.

RESULTS

From November 2014 to April 2015, 18 of 20 invited experts participated in three Delphi rounds. Of the 51 items selected during the first round, only 25 (49%) had 80-100% agreement during the second round, and a third round was therefore conducted. During this last round, 80-100% agreement was achieved for 31 (61%) items, which were used to create the curriculum. All 14 residents tested felt that a simulator training session was acceptable and helped them to improve their skills.

CONCLUSIONS

We describe a simulation-based hysteroscopy curriculum focusing on skill requirements identified by a Delphi procedure. Its development allows standardization of training programs offered to residents.

Effect of Home-Call on Otolaryngology Resident Education: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE

To inform institutional policies regarding call encounters through an evaluation of the effect of home-call on academic experience and fatigue among surgical residents. This study conducted an assessment of the nature of resident call encounters premidnight and postmidnight and a comparative analysis of sleep deprivation and efficiency in residents during home-call and off call.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

All Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery residents (n = 9) at single Canadian institution were asked to establish the time and nature of call encounters during home-call. Residents completed the Stanford Sleepiness Scale precall and postcall to measure sleepiness and wore an Actigraph device to measure sleep efficiency to establish fatigue in the setting of home-call as compared with residents off call. Home-call and off call patterns were studied using a random computer-generated selection of days for participants in both study groups. Analysis was conducted from December 1, 2013 to December 30, 2014.

RESULTS

Residents received on average 7 pages per night, of which 78.5% of pages were for nonurgent issues. On an average, change in sleep deprivation scores postcall was 3.0 points higher (95% CI: 2.48-3.57, p < 0.0001) in residents who were qualified for a postcall day compared with residents who did not qualify for a postcall day and residents off call according to the Stanford Sleepiness Scale. Postcall sleep deprivation was significantly associated with number of encounters managed after midnight, regardless of management through telephone or in-hospital (p = 0.01). The Actigraph device identified a significant decrease in sleep efficiency in residents who were qualified for a postcall day compared with residents off call (mean = -31.1; 95% CI: -38.9, -23.4; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to evaluate surgical residents' home-call experience. We identified a high proportion of nonurgent encounters that residents managed on call and increased postcall fatigue associated with postmidnight telephone encounters. This study highlights the detrimental effects of frequent sleep interruptions because of encounters on call and suggests the need for institutional guidelines to help minimize these interruptions.

Limitation of duty hour regulations for pediatric resident wellness: A mixed methods study in Japan

Duty hour regulations have been placed in residency programs to address mental health concerns and to improve wellness. Here, we elucidate the prevalence of depressive symptoms after implementing an overnight call shift system and the factors associated with burnout or depression among residents.A sequential exploratory mixed methods study was conducted in a tertiary care pediatric and perinatal hospital in Tokyo, Japan. A total of 41 pediatric residents participated in the cross-sectional survey. We determined and compared the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the number of actual working hours before and after implementing the shift system. A follow-up focus-group interview with 4 residents was conducted to explore the factors that may trigger or prevent depression and burnout.Mean working hours significantly decreased from 75.2 hours to 64.9 hours per week. Prevalence of depressive symptoms remained similar before and after implementation of the shift system. Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization from the burnout scale were markedly associated with depression. High workload, stress intolerance, interpersonal difficulties, and generation gaps regarding work-life balance could cause burnout. Stress tolerance, workload monitoring and balancing, appropriate supervision, and peer support could prevent burnout.Although the overnight call shift system was effective in reducing working hours, its effectiveness in managing mental health issues among pediatric residents remains unclear. Resident wellness programs represent an additional strategy and they should be aimed at fostering peer support and improvement of resident-faculty interactions. Such an approach could be beneficial to the relationship between physicians of different generations with conflicting belief structures.

Declining Operative Experience for Junior-Level Residents: Is This an Unintended Consequence of Minimally Invasive Surgery?

INTRODUCTION

Our group has previously demonstrated an upward shift from junior to senior resident participation in common general surgery operations, traditionally performed by junior-level residents. The objective of this study was to evaluate if this trend would correct over time. We hypothesized that junior resident case volume would improve.

METHODS

A sample of essential laparoscopic and open general surgery procedures (appendectomy, inguinal herniorrhaphy, cholecystectomy, and partial colectomy) was chosen for analysis. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Files were queried for these procedures between 2005 and 2012. Cases were stratified by participating resident post-graduate year with "junior resident" defined as post-graduate year1-3. Logistic regression was performed to determine change in junior resident participation for each type of procedure over time.

RESULTS

A total of 185,335 cases were included in the study. For 3 of the operations we considered, the prevalence of laparoscopic surgery increased from 2005-2012 (all p < 0.001). Cholecystectomy was an exception, which showed an unchanged proportion of cases performed laparoscopically across the study period (p = 0.119). Junior resident participation decreased by 4.5%/y (p < 0.001) for laparoscopic procedures and by 6.2%/y (p < 0.001) for open procedures. The proportion of laparoscopic surgeries performed by junior-level residents decreased for appendectomy by 2.6%/y (p < 0.001) and cholecystectomy by 6.1%/y (p < 0.001), whereas it was unchanged for inguinal herniorrhaphy (p = 0.75) and increased for partial colectomy by 3.9%/y (p = 0.003). A decline in junior resident participation was seen for all open surgeries, with appendectomy decreasing by 9.4%/y (p < 0.001), cholecystectomy by 4.1%/y (p < 0.002), inguinal herniorrhaphy by 10%/y (p < 0.001) and partial colectomy by 2.9%/y (p < 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Along with the proliferation of laparoscopy for common general surgical procedures there has been a concomitant reduction in the participation of junior-level residents. As previously thought, familiarity with laparoscopy has not translated to redistribution of basic operations from senior to junior residents. This trend has significant implications for general surgery resident education.

A Learner-Created Virtual Patient Curriculum for Surgical Residents: Successes and Failures

OBJECTIVE

To determine the feasibility and effectiveness of a learner-created virtual patient (VP) curriculum for postgraduate year 2 surgical residents.

DESIGN

Using a social-constructivist model of learning, we designed a learner-created VP curriculum to help postgraduate year 2 residents prepare for their in-training surgical examination. Each resident was assigned to create a VP curriculum based on the learning objectives for this examination, and VP cases were then disseminated to all residents for completion. To measure the learning effects of the curriculum, participants completed 2 simulated in-training examinations, both at the beginning and at the end of the intervention. Study participants also participated in a focus group and completed an online questionnaire about the perceived learning value of the curriculum.

SETTING

The study was conducted at the McGill University Health Centre, a tertiary care hospital in Montreal, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

In total, 24 residents from 7 surgical specialties completed both the pretest and posttest, as well as took part in the creation of a VP curriculum. Of those 24 residents, only 19 residents completed the cases created by their peers, with 7 completing greater than 50% of the cases and 12 completing less than 50%. In all 17 residents responded to the online questionnaire and 11 residents participated in the focus group.

RESULTS

The VP curriculum failed to improve scores from pretest (59.6%, standard deviation = 8.1) to posttest (55.4%, standard deviation = 6.6; p = 0.01) on the simulated in-training examination. Nonetheless, survey results demonstrated that most residents felt that creating a VP case (89%) and completing cases created by their peers (71%) had educational value. Overall, 71% preferred active participation in a curriculum to traditional didactic teaching. The focus group identified time-related constraints, concern about the quality of the peer-created cases, and questioning of the relationship between the curriculum and the Surgical Foundations examination as barriers to the success of the curriculum.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the fact that a learner-created VP curriculum did not improve scores on a mock in training examination, residents viewed this intervention as a valuable educational experience. Although there were barriers to the implementation of a learner-created curriculum, it is nonetheless important to try and integrate pedagogical concepts into the instructional design of curricula for surgical residents.

Elimination of 24-hour continuous medical resident duty in Quebec

SUMMARY

In 2012 Quebec limited continuous in-hospital duty to 16 consecutive hours for all residents regardless of postgraduate (PGY) level. The new restrictions in Quebec appeared to have a profound, negative effect on the quality of life of surgical residents at McGill University and a perceived detrimental effect on the delivery of surgical education and patient care. Here we discuss the results of a nationwide survey that we created and distributed to general surgery residents across Canada to capture and compare their perceptions of the changes to duty hour restrictions.

No Correlation Between Work-Hours and Operative Volumes--A Comparison Between United States and Danish Operative Volumes Achieved During Surgical Residency

OBJECTIVE

Since 2003, United States residents have been limited to an 80-hour workweek. This has prompted concerns of reduced educational quality, especially inadequate operating exposure. In contrast, the Danish surgical specialty-training program mandates a cap on working hours of 37 per week. We hypothesize that there is no direct correlation between work-hours and operative volume achieved during surgical residency. To test the hypothesis, we compare Danish and US operative volumes achieved during surgical residency training.

DESIGN

Retrospective comparative study.

PARTICIPANTS

The data from the US population was extracted from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education database for General Surgery residents from 2012 to 2013. For Danish residents, a questionnaire with case categories matching the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education categories were sent to all Danish surgeons graduating the national surgical residency program in 2012 or 2013, 54 in total.

RESULTS

In all, 30 graduated residents (55%) responded to the Danish survey. We found no significant differences in mean total major procedures (1002.4 vs 976.9, p = 0.28) performed during residency training, but comparing average major procedures per year, the US residents achieve significantly more (132.3 vs 195.4, p <0.01). When factoring in differences in time spent in training, this amounts to a weekly average difference of 1.2 cases throughout training.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we find no difference in overall surgical volumes between Danes and US residents during their surgical training. When time in training was accounted for, differences between weekly surgical volumes achieved were minor, indicating a lack of direct correlation between weekly work-hours and operative volumes achievable. Factors other than work-hours seem to effect on operative volumes achieved during training.

Operative Variability Among Residents Has Increased Since Implementation of the 80-Hour Workweek

BACKGROUND

The ACGME instituted duty hour restrictions in 2003. This presents a challenge for surgical residents who must acquire a medical and technical knowledge base during their training. Although the effect of work hour limitations on operative volume has been examined, no study has examined whether duty hour reform has had an effect on operative volume variability.

STUDY DESIGN

The ACGME operative log data of graduating general surgery residents from 1992 to 2015 were examined. Residents with the most and fewest total major cases were identified and case logs, learning styles, and evaluations were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using linear regression analysis, chi-square test, Student's t-test, and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Significance was defined as p < 0.05.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty-five residents graduated from 1992 to 2015. No change in overall operative volume was seen after the 2003 duty hour reform, however, there was an increase in operative variability. In addition, there was an increase in the variability of total major cases between the resident completing the most and fewest cases per class (183.3; p = 0.02) after the start of work hour restrictions. The residents who graduated with the highest operative volume were more likely to be action-based learners (odds ratio = 6.81; 95% CI, 2.84-16.34; p < 0.001) and received superior evaluation scores.

CONCLUSIONS

After the implementation of the 80-hour workweek, we found a significant increase in operative variability. This might suggest a growing disparity in the operative experience among surgical residents and, consequently, a varying quality of graduating residents. Programs should therefore consider using learning styles and developing competency-based training curricula to ensure equitable training among all trainees.

Use of a Night Float System to Comply With Resident Duty Hours Restrictions: Perceptions of Workplace Changes and Their Effects on Professionalism

PURPOSE

Although some evidence suggests that resident duty hours reforms can lead to shift-worker mentality and loss of patient ownership, other evidence links long hours and fatigue to poor work performance and loss of empathy, suggesting the restrictions could positively affect professionalism. The authors explored perceived impacts of a 16-hour duty restriction, achieved using a night float (NF) system, on the workplace and professionalism.

METHOD

In 2013, the authors conducted semistructured interviews with 18 residents, 9 staff physicians, and 3 residency program directors in the McGill University core internal medicine residency program regarding their perceptions of the program's 12-hour shift-based NF system. Interviews were transcribed and coded for common themes. The authors used a descriptive qualitative methodology.

RESULTS

Participants viewed implementation of the NF system as leading to decreased physical and mental exhaustion, more consistent interaction with patients, and more stable team structure within shifts compared with the previous 24-hour call system. These workplace changes were felt to improve teamwork and patient ownership within shifts, quality of work performed, and empathy. Across shifts, however, more frequent sign-overs, stricter application of shift time boundaries, and loose integration between daytime and NF teams were perceived as leading to emergence of shift-worker mentality around sign-over. Perceptions of optimal patient ownership changed from the traditional single-physician-24/7 model to team-based shared ownership.

CONCLUSIONS

Duty hours restrictions, as exemplified by an NF system, have both positive and negative impacts on professionalism. Interventions and training toward effective team-based care are needed to curb emergence of shift-worker mentality.

Investigating the Impact of the 2011 ACGME Resident Duty Hour Regulations on Surgical Residency Programs: The Program Director Perspective

BACKGROUND

The 2011 ACGME regulations required substantial changes to the structure of general surgery residency programs, due primarily to the 16-hour in-house rule for PGY1 residents. However, the scope of changes that programs have undertaken to meet these requirements, and the educational impact of those changes, are poorly understood.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed in-depth qualitative interviews with general surgery program directors. Twenty program directors participated in the study; interviews were conducted until adequate thematic saturation was achieved. Participants were recruited from a stratified random sampling of residency programs in the United States to ensure a representative cohort. Interviews focused on changes in call schedule, interns' educational requirements, development, and satisfaction.

RESULTS

Most programs used a month-long night float (NF) rotation (14 of 20 [75%]). A minority of programs (5 of 20 [25%]) used a weekly rotating schedule, in which interns worked 5 to 6 nights in a month. Multiple programs (65%) had an NF in place before 2011; these programs made changes to and expanded their existing schedule to accommodate the new regulations. Commonly cited challenges to instituting NF included weekend coverage (60%) and providing adequate days off during day-to-night transition. Interns spent as much as 3 months of the year on NF. Only 5 programs made explicit changes to teaching schedules or developed a curriculum for residents on NF. Seventy-five percent of programs excused interns, explicitly or implicitly, from didactic teaching when on NF. Common themes noted by program directors included delayed maturation of trainees, interns being isolated from the team culture, and a conflict between the professional behaviors of "following the rules" and "doing what is right."

Effect of 2011 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Duty-Hour Regulations on Objective Measures of Surgical Training

OBJECTIVE

In July 2011, new Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education duty-hour regulations were implemented in surgical residency programs. We examined whether differences in objective measures of surgical training exist at our institution since implementation.

DESIGN

Retrospective reviews of the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination performance and surgical case volume were collected for 5 academic years. Data were separated into 2 groups, Period 1: July 2008 through June 2011 and Period 2: July 2011 through June 2013.

SETTING

Single-institution study conducted at the Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, a tertiary-care academic center.

PARTICIPANTS

All general surgery residents, levels postgraduate year 1 through 5, from July 2008 through June 2013.

RESULTS

No significant differences in the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination total correct score or overall test percentile were noted between periods for any levels. Intern case volume increased significantly in Period 2 (90 vs 77, p = 0.036). For chief residents graduating in Period 2, there was a significant increase in total major cases (1062 vs 945, p = 0.002) and total chief cases (305 vs 267, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The duty-hour regulations did not negatively affect objective measures of surgical training in our program. Compliance with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education duty-hour regulations correlated with an increase in case volume. Adaptations made by our institution, such as maximizing daytime duty hours and increasing physician extenders, likely contributed to our findings.

Increase in Cesarean Operative Time Following Institution of the 80-Hour Workweek

BACKGROUND

In 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education limited resident duty hours to 80 hours per week. More than a decade later, the effect of the limits on resident clinical competence is not fully understood.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to assess the effect of duty hour restrictions on resident performance of an uncomplicated cesarean delivery.

METHODS

We reviewed unlabored primary cesarean deliveries at Duke University Hospital after 34 weeks gestation, between 2003 and 2011. Descriptive statistics and linear regression were used to compare total operative time with incision to delivery time as a function of years since institution of the 80-hour workweek. Resident training level, subject body mass index, estimated blood loss, and skin closure method were controlled for in the regression model.

RESULTS

We identified 444 deliveries that met study criteria. The mean (SD) total operative time in 2003-2004 was 43.3 (14.3) minutes and 59.6 (10.7) minutes in 2010-2011 (P < .001). Multivariable regression demonstrated an increase in total operative time of 1.9 min/y (P < .001) but no change in incision to delivery time (P = .05). The magnitude of increased operative time was seen among junior residents (2.0 min/y, P < .001) compared to that of senior residents (1.2 min/y, P = .06).

CONCLUSIONS

Since introduction of the 2003 duty hour limits, there has been an increase of nearly 20 minutes in the time required for a routine cesarean delivery. It is unclear if the findings are due to a change in residency duty hours or to another aspect of residency training.

Recent trends in National Institutes of Health funding for surgery: 2003 to 2013

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study is to compare the compositions of federally funded surgical research between 2003 and 2013, and to assess differences in funding trends between surgery and other medical specialties.

DATA SOURCES

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool database was queried for grants within core surgical disciplines during 2003 and 2013. Funding was categorized by award type, methodology, and discipline. Application success rates for surgery and 5 nonsurgical departments were trended over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Inflation-adjusted NIH funding for surgical research decreased 19% from $270 M in 2003 to $219 M in 2013, with a shift from R-awards to U-awards. Proportional funding to outcomes research almost tripled, while translational research diminished. Nonsurgical departments have increased NIH application volume over the last 10 years; however, surgery's application volume has been stagnant. To preserve surgery's role in innovative research, new efforts are needed to incentivize an increase in application volume.

The impact of 2011 ACGME duty hour restrictions on internal medicine resident workload and education

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) implemented work hour restrictions for physicians in training in 2003 that were revised July 1, 2011. Current published data are insufficient to assess whether such work hour restrictions will have long-term impact on residents' education. We searched computer-generated reports of hospital in-patient census, continuity clinic census, in-training exam scores and first-year resident attendance at educational conferences for the academic years 2010-2011 (August 1, 2010-May 31, 2011) and 2011-2013 (August 1, 2011-May 31, 2013). During the first year of the study period, the residents' inpatient internal medicine services admitted 1,754 patients; during this same period for academic years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013, the teaching services admitted 1,539 and 1,428 patients respectively, yielding a decrease of 16.4%. Monthly, these services cared for a mean of 27.1 (27.1/175.4 [15.4%]) fewer patients and 9.7 (9.7/34.4 [28.2%]) fewer patients per intern than in the previous year. No statistical difference was observed regarding continuity clinic attendance and in-training exam scores. Residents in the years following work hours restrictions attended more educational conferences. Implementation of 2011 ACGME work hour regulations resulted in fewer patients seen by first-year residents in hospital, but did not affect in-training exam scores. Whether these findings will translate into differences in patient outcomes, and quality of care remains to be seen.