Robotic surgery training during general surgery residency: a survey comparing attitudes towards a robotic training curriculum within general surgery, urology, and OBGYN residents and attendings

Abstract

General surgery residents are increasingly exposed to robotic surgery during their training. However, there is no standardized robotic educational curriculum across United States residency programs. Prior to implementing a robotic surgery curriculum, we surveyed our residents and attendings to ascertain their attitude towards robotic surgery training in residency. An anonymous survey was distributed to all general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN), and urology residents, and their respective attending staff at our institution. Responses were compared between residents, attendings, and specialty. Twenty-six (72% response rate) general surgery residents and 18 (47%) subspecialty residents (OBGYN and urology) responded to the survey. Among attendings, 21 general surgery (32%) and 18 subspecialty staff (27%) responded. The majority of general surgery residents and attendings agreed that a robotic surgery curriculum should be implemented in the general surgery residency program (100 vs 86%, p = 0.04). Subspecialty residents also believed a formal curriculum should be implemented within their respective programs (100%). There was no statistically significant difference between general surgery and subspecialty resident responses. The majority of general surgery and subspecialty attendings responded that they would want a robotic surgery curriculum if they were currently residents (76 vs 94%, p = 0.12). The majority of general surgery residents and attendings at our institution believe a robotic surgery curriculum should be offered during residency. This attitude is similar to those of the subspecialty residents and attendings. A surgical education initiative should be developed to create a standardized training program to assure teaching of basic technical skills in robotic surgery before trainees enter clinical practice.

The distribution of robotic surgery in general and visceral surgery departments in Switzerland – a nationwide inquiry

“…postulated that a shift toward robotic procedures performed by senior residents or attending surgeons leads to a delay in residency training [ 29 ]. Another recent investigation revealed that young residents are interested in robotic surgery and would appreciate an early implementation of robotic surgery during residency [ 30 ]. A study from the United States showed that in many surgical residency programs, a robotic curriculum was already introduced in recent years [ 31 ].…”

A systematic review of general surgery robotic training curriculums

“…This is useful and a positive outcome of simulator training given that it allows for learning of skills within realistic simulation prior to the operating room, increasing learner and faculty confidence in capability. The benefit of implementation has been acknowledged by residents and attending staff alike from multiple subspecialties, as in evident in a survey study performed by Carroll et al in which 100% of residents surveyed believed a formal curriculum should be implemented within their respective programs [ 18 ]. Similarly, an updated survey of program directors across the country showed agreement in 83% of respondents that robotic-assisted surgery training provided a net benefit to general surgery residents [ 19 ].…”

Equivalency of short-term perioperative outcomes after open, laparoscopic, and robotic ileal pouch anal anastomosis. Does procedure complexity override operative approach?

“…Since its introduction in the 2000s, the use of robotic platforms has substantially expanded in general surgery including its application in colorectal surgery [ 5 ]. The wristed instruments with 7 degrees of articulation, tremor reduction, and 3-dimensional high-definition view were considered a significant advance over laparoscopy particularly when operating in the pelvis.…”