Poster2-05: TIME OUT FROM TRAINING AFFECTS SURGEONSâ APPROACH TO LEARNING MATERIALS: SUB-ANALYSIS OF A NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Janice A Taylor, MD, MEd1, Charles L Snyder, MD2, David M Powell, MD3; 1University of Florida, 2University of Missouri-Kansas City, 3Stanford University
Background: The American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) is committed to creating and maintaining educational resources of high quality and relevance for surgical trainees and pediatric surgeons in practice. This mission involves a network of online resources, at the center of which are the self-assessment program (Exam-based Pediatric surgery Educational Reference Tool – ExPERT) and the education reference platform (Pediatric Surgery Not a Textbook – NaT). A follow-up needs assessment was performed to determine material use and knowledge gaps.
Methods: A voluntary 25-question survey approved by the APSA Executive Committee was emailed to all APSA members. The survey included questions regarding years out from training, use of APSA-supported educational materials, and preferences for accessing medical knowledge. Multiple choice, Likert scale, and free response fields were used, and compared to demographic responses.
Results: There were 294 responses. Experience levels of respondents, in decreasing order of frequency, were >15 years in practice, 6-15 years, 0-5 years, and trainees. Trainee preference for obtaining and maintaining knowledge was for the NaT, practice 0-5 years preference was for national meetings, 6-15 years was for ExPERT, and >15 years was for ExPERT. The least-preferred method by the two older groups was podcast learning. Least preferred by the two younger experience groups were review courses (single topic or broad topics). Most common free text responses from the younger groups identified treatment pathways as a desired area of more learning material. Commonest free text responses from the older groups involved practice/partner management and discussions regarding emerging/controversial clinical standards.
Conclusions: The purpose of the APSA follow-up assessment was to determine utilization and preference of Internet-based materials created for members. Reviewing the data gave insight into patterns of material use based on surgeon experience level, particularly the extremes of experience. The younger surgeon and trainee groups had higher reported use of knowledge acquisition forums, whereas the more experienced groups focused on self-assessment tools. Free text responses for how to improve APSA educational programs were reflective of the respondents’ experience levels. Analysis of this needs assessment will help guide continued curriculum development for APSA members.