Poster5 - 01: TRAINEES LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE: RESIDENT ATTITUDES TOWARDS ROBOTIC SURGERY.
Ingrid Woelfel, MD, Daniel Mansour, MD, Robert E Merritt, MD, Desmond M D'Souza, MD, FACS; The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Introduction: Robotic surgery is fast becoming common practice for many operations ranging across the entire surgical realm. With the continued improvement in haptics and the growing application of robotic surgery it will quickly become essential for the trainees of today to be facile with this technology. The objective of this study is to conduct a needs analysis to assess the need for a structured robotic surgery curriculum.

Methods: An online survey was utilized to collect data from all categorical general surgery residents at a single academic institution. Subjects ranged from PGY1-PGY5. The questionnaire assessed residents experience with the robotic simulator, the number of robotic cases residents had completed and the rotations in which they used robotic surgery. It also elucidated the barriers they face in gaining further experience on the console.

Results and Conclusions: A total of 30 (78.9%) residents responded to the questionnaire. Half of the respondents were in their PGY-1 or PGY2 year while the other half was PGY3-5. 63.3% of residents had completed modules on a robotic simulator, which is lower than the 80% of residents that have reportedly utilized both endoscopic as well as laparoscopic simulators previously. 70% of residents have not operated on the console while one individual reported a total of 45 cases (Mean = 2.6, Median = 0, Standard Deviation = 8.8). 96.6% of residents indicated that they thought structured evaluation on robotics (similar to Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery) was “Highly essential” or “Moderately important.” And even more importantly over half (53.3%) of residents stated that they “definitely” or it was “somewhat likely” that they would utilize robotics in their future practice. The most commonly cited barrier to robot experience was the long learning curve to become an effective operator in addition to the case volume and fellow involvement.

The questionnaire showed that residents today understand the value that robotic surgeries can bring to their future practices and desire more regimented curriculum and clinical opportunities in robotic surgery.