Surgical Boot Camps Increases Confidence for Residents Transitioning to Senior Responsibilities

Abstract

Objective: Surgical boot camps enhance the confidence of medical students and surgical interns. The impact of boot camps on the confidence of post-graduate year (PGY) 2 residents is unknown. We hypothesized that a postinternship boot camp would improve the confidence of PGY-2 residents in managing their newfound responsibilities. We also hypothesized that the effect of a tailored high-impact boot camp would persist over time.

Design: A 2-hour boot camp at our simulation center was implemented for PGY-2 residents in 2016 and 2017. Confidence in handling boot camp scenarios was measured on a 1 to 5 Likert scale before and after the boot camp. Three-month follow-up was assessed in the 2017 cohort.

Participants: Thirty-one PGY-2 residents (n = 16 in 2016, n = 15 in 2017) completed the boot camp.

Results: Residents reported increased confidence in placing central lines (p < 0.001), placing chest tubes (p = 0.01), managing emergency airways (p < 0.001), running a code (p = 0.03), and fulfilling the role of in-house senior resident (p < 0.001). Three-month follow-up in 2017 (n = 10) demonstrated no difference in confidence compared to postboot camp results.

Conclusions: Boot camps can durably improve confidence in skills expected of PGY-2 residents assuming in-house senior resident responsibilities.

Keywords: boot camp; medical education; role transitions; simulation; surgery residency; surgical education.