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Addressing Surgical Education Gaps During the Pandemic with Virtual Anatomical Dissection
Brodie Parent, MD MS
Vu Nguyen, MD
Rafael Diaz-Garcia, MD
University of Pittsburgh
2021-01-31
Presenter: Brodie Parent
Affidavit:
I affirm this work is 100% original by the presenter and has not been published or presented elsewhere.
Director Name: Vu Nguyen
Author Category: Resident Plastic Surgery
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: General Reconstruction
Introduction:
During the pandemic, trainee participation in plastic surgery operations has been restricted. In order to promote resident competency and provide exposure opportunities for students, we designed a virtual cadaver dissection course entitled 'Local Flaps in the Lower Extremity.'
Methods:
A pre-intervention survey was distributed to all plastic surgery residents (n=24) and medical students in the plastic surgery interest group. The survey solicited opinions regarding cadaver dissection and assessed knowledge of the lower extremity with prior In-Service Exam questions. Based on these data, the virtual cadaver course curriculum was designed, and funding was secured for two cadaver legs. Statistical significance was determined using a chi-square test.
Results:
Five respondents were independent residents (15%), 18 were integrated residents (55%), and 10 (30%) were medical students. Median age was 31 years (IQR 25-34) and 15 respondents (46%) were female. Twenty-three residents (100%) thought that dissections helped them prepare for operations, compared to only 6 students (60%, p=0.001). More cadaver experiences directly correlated with higher perceived benefits (p=0.013). Senior residents reported that they could independently perform only a median of 3 out of 23 listed local flaps (IQR 1-6). The mean score for In-Service questions was 62%.
Conclusion:
Trainees currently have competency deficits related to local flaps in the leg, which will only be exacerbated by COVID-19 restrictions. Trainees report that cadaver experience is valuable for their career; virtual dissections may be effective to meet this educational gap. Our course will be given March 31, 2021, with post-intervention survey data to follow.
