Enhancing surgical internship experiences: The potential of a supporting digital curriculum

Abstract

Background: Centralization of care jeopardizes interns' learning experiences and necessitates educational changes. Here we present the development and evaluation of a structured digital curriculum, offered in addition to the clinical internship, to address these challenges.

Methods: The structured digital curriculum was implemented in a the VUmc/Amsterdam UMC surgical internship program in the Netherlands. The curriculum used a modular format built around a skill or clinical condition. Each module included background information, digital elements like e-learnings and interactive vlogs, and self-assessments. From April 1st to June 30th, 2022, we conducted a mixed-methods evaluation comparing interns' experiences between the conventional and digital curriculum through surveys and interviews.

Results: Thirty-nine interns (28.1 %) completed the survey, 17 (24.2 %) from the traditional curriculum and 22 (31.9 %) from the structured blended curriculum. Results from the interviews triangulated and complemented survey results. Interns appreciated both curricula (course marks 7.4 ± 2.0 vs. 8.1 ± 1.1, P = 0.207). The intervention cohort specifically appreciated the structured and comprehensive presentation of available study materials, which resulted in a sense of empowerment.

Conclusions: Integrating a structured digital curriculum to support clinical internships provides interns with comprehensive, readily accessible knowledge, refines their understanding of clinical topics, and results in feelings of empowerment. The combination of clinical and digital education ensures adequate exposure to subjects vital for future doctors, even if clinical exposure is limited. Thus, using a structured digital curriculum prepares the intern and helps the internship program to adequately navigate future medical challenges.

Key message: Centralization of care jeopardizes interns' learning experiences and necessitates educational changes. A structured digital curriculum can empower interns in this scenario by providing readily accessible knowledge which refines their understanding of clinical topics.

Keywords: Curriculum; Digital training; Interviews; Medical students; Mixed methods; Surgery; Surveys; Thematic analysis.

Fig. 1

Curriculum sections.

Fig. 2

a–c: Clinical condition, overview of study materials, and Vlog. - a: “Acute abdomen” module and sections. - b: Example of overview page within the “Acute abdomen” module. Within this module other conditions were cholecystitis, diverticulitis, ileus, invagination, pancreatitis, perforation, and volvulus. - c: Frame of vlog of laparoscopic appendectomy, the questions are implemented by the course coordinators and students need to answer the question to proceed with watching the video.