Category: Perspectives, Opinions and Curiosities

Mixing Feedback and Compliments Boosts Suturing and Knot-Tying Skills

A study explored the impact of feedback and compliments on students’ suturing and knot-tying skills. Participants were divided into three groups: feedback, compliments, or a combination of both. The group receiving both feedback and compliments showed significant improvement in their skills, similar to the feedback-only group, while the compliments-only group didn’t improve significantly. Those who […]

Emotional Intelligence Mitigates Burnout in Medical and Surgical Residents

A 3-year study investigated the connection between emotional intelligence and burnout in medical and surgical residents. The research, conducted at a Michigan hospital, revealed a significant rise in burnout levels during the first year of residency. Emotional exhaustion increased by 44% but later decreased by 23% in the third year. Both medical and surgical residents […]

Preoperative Smoking Cessation Interventions: Impact and Variability

A systematic review analyzed nine articles from 1998 to 2019 to evaluate pre-hospital smoking cessation interventions’ impact on smoking rates for surgery patients. These interventions included methods like nicotine replacement therapy, e-cigarettes, counseling, and medications. Among 1,762 patients in the studies, six reported smoking status on the day of surgery, with four studies showing differences […]

Impact of COVID-19 on Female Surgeons: New Normal Work Environment

A survey of 139 female surgeons conducted in 2021 explored the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives. The study revealed that 71.2% of respondents felt the pandemic worsened their clinical practice, with 30.9% experiencing a decrease in income. Many faced challenges, including caring for children, elderly family members, and increased household chores. These […]

Sex-Related Bias in Faculty Evaluation of Surgical Residents

This study delves into the impact of the attending surgeon’s and surgical resident’s gender on evaluations in the operating room. Female attending surgeons rated female residents lower in terms of autonomy compared to their male counterparts. However, male attendings only showed a significant difference in autonomy ratings for female residents in highly complex cases. These […]

Research Residents Improve Student Perceptions of Surgery Clerkship

The surgical clerkship is a pivotal part of medical education, influencing students’ views on surgery. A program at one institution enlisted research residents as junior clerkship coordinators and educators. Student feedback before and after implementing this program showed no change in overall course perception. However, students noted improved clarity in written clerkship materials and found […]

Digestive Cancer Surgery Outcomes in Low-Mid Income Countries: A Close Look at Morbidity and Mortality

This study delves into the postoperative outcomes of digestive cancer surgeries with curative intent in a low-mid income country. Analyzing data from 76 patients, the study revealed that immediate preoperative morbidity was around 36.84%, with a mortality rate of 5.26%. At 90 days post-surgery, morbidity remained consistent, while mortality increased to 7.9%. The research identified […]

Simulation in Residency Transition Programs Lacks Emphasis on Non-Clinical Skills

Transition to residency programs often incorporate simulation to enhance clinical skills but tend to overlook non-clinical skills. In a scoping review of 38 articles, researchers found that simulation activities, such as mock paging and procedural skills training, primarily focused on clinical aspects. The most common simulation tools were standardized patients. While communication skills, critical thinking, […]

Balanced Blood Transfusions Improve Survival in Trauma Patients

A retrospective analysis of trauma patients receiving blood transfusions aimed to validate findings from a previous study on transfusion outcomes. Researchers analyzed 17,047 patients and found that mortality increased with each unit of packed red blood cells transfused, with a higher likelihood of death at 11 units. Notably, patients receiving balanced transfusions had better survival […]

Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act Falls Short in Improving Surgical Outcomes for Non-English Speakers

Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which mandated the use of qualified language interpreters, had an unintended impact. A study analyzing surgical outcomes in non-English primary language speakers (N-EPL) found that after Section 1557’s implementation, N-EPL patients experienced increased mortality, post-operative complications, and non-routine discharges. Contrary to expectations, the regulation did not lead to […]