The Role of Simulation in Neurosurgical Education: A Survey of 99 United States Neurosurgery Program Directors

• Published in: World neurosurgery Vol. 80; no. 5; pp. e1 - e8
• Main Authors: Ganju, Aruna, Aoun, Salah G, Daou, Marc R, El Ahmadieh, Tarek Y, Chang, Alice, Wang, Lucy, Batjer, H. Hunt, Bendok, Bernard R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2013
• Subjects: Academic training; Attitude of Health Personnel; Cadaver; Computer Simulation; Computer-Assisted Instruction - methods; Curriculum; Data Collection; Education, Medical, Graduate - methods; Education, Medical, Graduate - organization & administration; Faculty, Medical; Humans; Internship and Residency - methods; Internship and Residency - organization & administration; Models, Anatomic; Neurosurgery; Neurosurgery - education; Neurosurgical simulation; Program directors; Resident education; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; User-Computer Interface; Work-hour; United States; Neurosurgical simulation; Resident education; Academic training; Curriculum; Accreditation Council of Medical Education; Program directors; Work-hour; ACGME
• ISSN: 1878-8750; 1878-8769
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2012.11.066

Objective With the reduction of resident work hours and the increasing focus on patient safety, it has become evident that simulation has a growing role to play in surgical education. We surveyed the program directors of 99 U.S. Neurosurgery programs in an effort to better understand how simulation can be implemented in Neurosurgery and to gain insight into key issues that are currently being discussed amongst Neurosurgical educators. Methods A 14-item questionnaire was emailed to 99 Neurosurgery residency program directors. Questions assessed the clinical impact of simulation, the role of simulation in academia, the investments required in time and money, and the model best suited for simulation. Results The survey response rate was 53.5%. Seventy-two percent of respondents believed that simulation would improve patient outcome, 74% that it could supplement conventional training, but only 25% that it could replace it. The majority strongly believed that it could help preparing complex cases and could be of use to attending faculty. Forty-five percent thought that residents should achieve pre-defined levels of proficiency on simulators before working on patients. Seventy-four percent of respondents declared they would make simulator practice mandatory if available, and the majority was willing to invest daily time and considerable funds on simulators. Cadavers were the least preferred models to use compared to virtual simulation and noncadaveric physical models. Conclusions Simulation should be integrated in Neurosurgery training curricula. The validation of available tools is the next step that will enable the training, acquisition, and testing of neurosurgical skills.