Evaluation of surgical anatomy identification using ICT on surgical residents

Abstract

Introduction: Traditionally the evaluation of the competences necessary for the execution of successful surgical procedures in residents of general surgery had centered on written exams. Even those attempts for measuring the aptitude to identify the surgical anatomy have been partial and subjective. To incorporate the use of TIC in the evaluations allows, by means of the simultaneous promotion of the digital literacy, to create a complementary evaluation that demonstrates the real degree of learning, without the need to expose the patient to unnecessary risks.

Objective: To propose a complementary evaluation to measure the capacity of the surgeon in training for the identification of the anatomical structures with surgical relevancy incorporating the use of TIC.

Method: An experimental trial was realized to 30 residents, from second to fourth year, of the general surgery residency program on surgical anatomy. It was compared a Group A with 15 residents to whom it was applied a written evaluation with questions of multiple option with a Group B of 15 residents to whom it was applied an evaluation based on a specialized software of anatomy (Essential Anatomy) within electronic tablets.

Results: The middle ages of the residents were 27 years (millennials), 67% corresponds to the masculine gender and 33 % to the feminine gender. The Groupe A obtain a global significantly minor qualification (X = 6.0333) in comparison with the one obtained by the Group B (X= 8.0467). It is due probably since the residents are more acquainted with the in vivo surgical own(proper) anatomy of the practical activities inside operating room, that with the surgical anatomy of the literature.

Conclusions: It is possible to use a complementary evaluation based on ICT, out of operating room and safe for the patient, to measure the ability to identify the surgical anatomy in residents of general surgery.