Surgical cognitive simulation improves real-world surgical performance: randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the acknowledgement of human factors, application of psychological methods by surgeons to improve surgical performance is sparse. This may reflect the paucity of evidence that would help surgeons to use psychological techniques effectively. There is a need for novel approaches to see how cognitive training might be used to address these challenges. METHODS: Surgical trainees were divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received training in surgical cognitive simulation (SCS) and was asked to apply the techniques while working in operating theatres. Both groups underwent procedure-based assessment based on the UK and Ireland Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP) before the training and 4 months afterwards. Subjective evaluations of SCS application were obtained from the intervention group participants. RESULTS: Among 21 participants in the study, there was a statistically significant improvement in 11 of 16 procedure-based assessment domains (P < 0.050) as well as a statistically significant mean reduction in time to complete the procedure in the intervention group (-15.98 versus -1.14 min; P = 0.024). Subjectively, the intervention group experienced various benefits with SCS, especially in preoperative preparedness, intraoperative focus, and overall performance. CONCLUSION: SCS training has a statistically significant impact in improving surgical performance. Subjective feedback suggests that surgeons are able to apply it in practice. SCS may prove a vital adjunct for skill acquisition in surgical training.

An exploratory investigation of personality types attracted to ENT.

BACKGROUND: Careers in medicine are embarked on by people with various personalities, with highly strung and motivated characters usually drawn to surgery. This study was conducted to identify the personality types of ENT surgeons in comparison to a control group of foundation doctors. METHOD: A validated personality questionnaire was distributed to ENT specialty trainees and two cohorts of foundation doctors between October 2013 and November 2015. The questionnaires were scored and individuals were categorised as having either type A or type B personalities. RESULTS: Response rates were 90 per cent (26 out of 29) for ENT specialty trainees and 76 per cent (79 out of 104) for foundation doctors. There was a significantly higher proportion of type A personalities in the ENT specialty trainees compared to the foundation doctors (18 out of 26 ENT specialty trainees vs 32 out of 79 foundation doctors; p = 0.01, chi-square = 6.4708). There were no associations between personality type and grade, gender or subspecialty of interest. CONCLUSION: ENT surgeons are more likely to be of type A personality in comparison to foundation doctors. This could be a reflection of the recruitment process into the specialty or a characteristic of individuals that get drawn to ENT.