ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Recent studies have focused on surgeons' nontechnical skills in the operating room (OR), especially leadership. In an attempt to identify trainee preferences, we explored junior residents' opinions about the OR leadership style of teaching faculty. METHODS: Overall, 20 interns and 20 mid-level residents completed a previously validated survey on the style of leadership they encountered, the style they preferred to receive, and the style they personally employed in the OR. In all, 4 styles were explored; authoritative: leader makes decisions and communicates them firmly; explanatory: leader makes decisions promptly, but explains them fully; consultative: leader consults with trainees when important decisions are made, and delegative: leader puts the problem before the group and makes decisions by majority opinion. Comparisons were completed using chi-square analysis. RESULTS: Junior resident preference for leadership style of attending surgeons in the OR differed from what they encountered. Overall, 62% of residents encountered an authoritative leadership style; however, only 9% preferred this (p < 0.001). Instead, residents preferred explanatory (53%) or consultative styles (41%). Preferences differed by postgraduate year. Although 40% of interns preferred a consultative style, 50% of mid-level residents preferred explanatory leadership. CONCLUSIONS: Junior resident preference of leadership style in the OR differs from what they actually encounter. This has the potential to create unwanted tension and may erode team performance. Awareness of this difference provides an opportunity for an educational intervention directed at both attendings and trainees.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Faculty, Medical , Internship and Residency , Leadership , Operating Rooms , Specialties, Surgical/education , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Medical Staff, HospitalABSTRACT
Proprotein convertase substilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) promotes the degradation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) and thereby increases serum LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C). We have developed a humanized monoclonal antibody that recognizes the LDLR binding domain of PCSK9. This antibody, J16, and its precursor mouse antibody, J10, potently inhibit PCSK9 binding to the LDLR extracellular domain and PCSK9-mediated down-regulation of LDLR in vitro. In vivo, J10 effectively reduces serum cholesterol in C57BL/6 mice fed normal chow. J16 reduces LDL-C in healthy and diet-induced hypercholesterolemic cynomologous monkeys, but does not significantly affect high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Furthermore, J16 greatly lowered LDL-C in hypercholesterolemic monkeys treated with the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin. Our data demonstrate that anti-PCSK9 antibody is a promising LDL-C-lowering agent that is both efficacious and potentially additive to current therapies.