Evidence-Based Surgery Curriculum With Journal Clubs: Pilot Study at a Community-Based Hospital Residency Program

Abstract

Introduction: Implementing evidence-based surgery (EBS) skills in general surgery residency programs, especially in community-based settings, is challenging due to time constraints and limited resources. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an EBS multimethod program-incorporating online resources and structured journal club (JC) sessions-on improving research methodology, critical appraisal, and evidence-based practice skills among general surgery residents in a community hospital.

Methods: Over three JC sessions between December 2023 and February 2024 at the Mount Sinai South Nassau General Surgery Residency Program, resident moderators led sessions with faculty mentors, assigning articles to resident presenters. Participants completed JC Checklist and Critical Appraisal Summary Checklist, pretests and post tests, and evaluation surveys to assess knowledge acquisition and perceptions.

Results: Evaluation surveys showed high satisfaction, with participants predominantly selecting "Agree" or "Strongly Agree." The survey demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha >0.70). A significant positive correlation existed between resident moderator performance and overall session satisfaction (P = 0.042), while faculty mentor performance did not correlate significantly. Linear regression revealed that pretest scores significantly predicted post test scores (β = 0.91, P < 0.01), accounting for 81% of variance. Differences between pretest and post test scores decreased from session 1 to session 3.

Conclusions: The EBS program was well-received and showed potential for enhancing EBS skills among residents in a community setting. The association between moderator performance and session satisfaction highlights the importance of resident engagement. Limited faculty expertise in EBS underscores the need for faculty development. Future studies with larger cohorts and longer durations are recommended to evaluate long-term impacts on competencies and scholarly output.

Keywords: Community-based surgery residency program; Critical appraisal; Evidence-based curriculum; Evidence-based surgery; Journal club; Methodology; Practice-based skills.