A Novel Expert Coaching Model in Urology, Aimed at Accelerating the Learning Curve in Robotic Prostatectomy.

Journal: Journal of surgical education
PMID:

Abstract

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: The surgical residency model assumes that upon completion, a surgeon is ready to practice and grow independently. However, many surgeons fail to improve after reaching proficiency, which in certain instances has correlated with worse clinical outcomes. Coaching addresses this problem and furthers surgeons' education post-residency. Currently, surgical coaching programs focus on medical students and residents, and have been shown to improve residents' and medical students' technical and non-technical abilities. Coaching programs also increase the accuracy of residents, fellows, and attendings in self-assessing their surgical ability. Despite the potential benefits, coaching remains underutilized and poorly studied. We developed an expert-led, face-to-face, video-based surgical coaching program at a tertiary medical center among specialized attending surgeons. Our goal was to evaluate the feasibility of such a program, measure surgeons' attitudes towards internal peer coaching, determine whether surgeons found the sessions valuable and educational, and to subjectively self-assess changes in operative technique.

Authors

  • Jonathan Fainberg
    Department of Urology, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York. Electronic address: jsf2111@gmail.com.
  • Rand N Wilcox Vanden Berg
    Department of Urology, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York.
  • Gregory Chesnut
    Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
  • Jonathan A Coleman
  • Timothy Donahue
    Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
  • Behfar Ehdaie
    Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
  • Alvin C Goh
    Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation and Education, Department of Urology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas.
  • Vincent P Laudone
    Urology Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
  • Taehyoung Lee
    Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
  • Jin Pyon
    Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York.
  • Peter T Scardino
    Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York.
  • Robert C Smith
    Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York.