Abstract
P011
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if certain surgical procedures could be used as benchmark skills to monitor resident progress in developing surgical competency.
Methods: A survey was sent to otolaryngology residency program directors in the US. Respondents were given a list of otolaryngology surgical procedures as monitored by the ABO, where the median number done by graduating residents in 2002 was 2 or greater, and were asked to check off whether they felt residents should be able to do each as a primary surgeon. The appropriate level of training for competency in each procedure was chosen by respondents.
Results: Respondents selected a number of procedures that they felt residents at each level of training should be able to perform independently. In order to be useful in evaluation, these procedures need to be widely done across training programs, and done in sufficient numbers so that competency achievement is possible.
Conclusion: With changes in the structure of residency, including reduction of work hours, there is a greater need to use curricular time efficiently. Agreement with regard to benchmark skills allows us to concentrate evaluation efforts in these areas. Surgical skill is one aspect of clinical competency, and this survey is one of many ways to achieve consensus toward developing new evaluation methods.