Poster5-07: SURGICAL INTERN BOOT CAMP – DOES A PRE-RESIDENCY COURSE HELP INTERNS?
Hashim M Hanif, MD, Ginger E Coleman, MD, Katherine Aguirre, PhD, Brian R Davis, MD, FACS, Karinn Chambers, MD; Texas Tech University of Health Science

Introduction: Surgical training has evolved over the years, ACGME has outlined six core competencies that need to be accomplished during the five years of training. Increasing oversight of medical students and junior residents has led to revamping of teaching curricula nationwide to encompass the six core competencies. We hypothesized that a “boot camp” given at the beginning of resident training and at six-month follow-up would improve resident confidence levels on specific aspects of the six competencies.

Method: The interns underwent two boot camps – a summer and a winter boot camp. The summer boot camp (SBC) included didactics, simulations and practical assessment sessions. The SBC spanned over two days; a total of ten hours of didactics and ten hours of simulations and practical assessments. The SBC was held a week prior to incoming interns assuming clinical duties. The interns were given self-assessment questionnaires before and after the boot camp.

Winter boot camp spanned over half a day of practical assessments. 

Results: Preliminary data analysis shows that significant differences were seen in the interns’ self-assessment of skills. There was a significant difference in self-assessment scores for one-handed knot tying, mean=2.0 before and mean=3.0 after (p<0.05), and two handed knot tying, mean=2.0 before and mean=3.4 after (p<0.05) (Chart 1.). Interns perception of their skills for arterial line placement, chest tube placement and performing a breast ultrasound were significantly better also (p<0.05).

Discussion: Many medical schools have adopted a pre-residency training model for students going into surgery. The transition from being a student to a resident can be abrupt, because responsibilities and decision-making can become more demanding once clinical duties begin. Interns are expected to function as independent healthcare providers while attempting to master the ACGME’s clinical competencies.

Preliminary data show that training incoming interns prior to them commencing clinical duties offers the dual advantage implementing and improving knowledge and skills taught into day-to-day patient care. The current study suggests that these exercises can increase confidence in their clinical and interpersonal skills.

Reassessment of these skills at six-month follow-up will help determine the retention of the skills and confidence levels.