BMJ  2003;327:1032-1037 (1 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7422.1032

Clinical review

Objective assessment of technical skills in surgery

Krishna Moorthy, clinical research fellow1, Yaron Munz, clinical research fellow1, Sudip K Sarker, clinical research fellow1, Ara Darzi, professor of surgery1

1 Department of Surgical Oncology and Technology, Imperial College, St Mary's Hospital, London W2 1NY

Correspondence to: K Moorthy k.moorthy@imperial.ac.uk

In the past few years, considerable developments have been made in the objective assessment of technical proficiency of surgeons. Technical skills should be assessed during training, and various methods have been developed for this purpose

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Introduction

Surgical competence entails a combination of knowledge, technical skills, decision making, communication skills, and leadership skills. Of these, dexterity or technical proficiency is considered to be of paramount importance among surgical trainees. The assessment of technical skills during training has been considered to be a form of quality assurance for the future.1 Typically surgical learning is based on an apprenticeship model. In this model the assessment of technical proficiency is the responsibility of the trainers. However, their assessment is largely subjective.2 Objective assessment is essential because deficiencies in training and performance are difficult to correct without objective feedback.3

The introduction of the Calman system in the United Kingdom, the implementation of the European Working Time Directive, and the financial pressures to increase productivity4 have reduced the opportunity to learn surgical skills in the operating theatre. Studies have shown that these changes have resulted in nearly halving the surgical case load . . . [Full text of this article]

Methods

Current methods of assessment in surgery and their limitations

Objective methods of assessing technical skills

Discussion

Conclusion


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Rapid Responses:

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