Effect of protected research time on ABSITE scores during general surgery residency

Abstract

Background: Objective - To determine whether residents with one or more years of dedicated research time (Research Residents, RR) improved their ABSITE scores compared to those without (Non-Research Residents, N-RR).

Methods: A retrospective review of general surgery residents' ABSITE scores from 1995 to 2016 was performed. RR were compared to N-RR. Additional analysis of At Risk (AR) v Not At Risk residents (NAR) (<or >35th percentile as PGY1-2) was also performed.

Results: Cohort - 147 residents (34 RR and 113 N-RR). There were no differences in initial ABSITE scores (p = 0.47). By definition, the AR group had lower scores than NAR. Overall, post-research RR v PGY-4 N-RR scores did not differ (p = 0.84). Only the AR residents improved their scores (p = 0.0009 v NAR p = 0.42), regardless of research group (p = 0.70).

Conclusion: Protected research time did not improve residents' ABSITE scores, regardless of initial scores. At Risk residents improved regardless of research group status.

Keywords: ABSITE; Education; Research; Residents; Surgery; Surgical education; Surgical training.