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Background: This study aimed to evaluate core surgical training (CST) differential attainment related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), gender and ethnicity. The hypothesis was that COVID-19 adversely influenced CST outcomes., Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 271 anonymised CST records was undertaken at a UK Statutory Education Body. Primary effect measures were Annual Review of Competency Progression Outcome (ARCPO), Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) examination pass and Higher Surgical Training National Training Number (NTN) appointment. Data were collected prospectively at ARCP and analysed with non-parametric statistical methods in SPSS., Results: CSTs numbering 138 completed training pre-COVID and 133 peri-COVID. ARCPO 1, 2 and 6 were 71.9% pre-COVID versus 74.4% peri-COVID ( P =0.844). MRCS pass rates were 69.6% pre-COVID versus 71.1% peri-COVID ( P =0.968), but NTN appointment rates diminished (pre-COVID 47.4% vs. peri-COVID 36.9%, P =0.324); none of the above varied by gender or ethnicity. Multivariable analyses by three models revealed: ARCPO was associated with gender [m:f 1:0.87, odds ratio (OR) 0.53, P =0.043] and CST theme (Plastics vs. General OR 16.82, P =0.007); MRCS pass with theme (Plastics vs. General OR 8.97, P =0.004); NTN with the Improving Surgical Training run-through programme (OR 5.00, P <0.001). Programme retention improved peri-COVID (OR 0.20, P =0.014) with pan University Hospital rotations performing better than Mixed or District General-only rotations (OR 6.63, P =0.018)., Conclusion: Differential attainment profiles varied 17-fold, yet COVID-19 did not influence ARCPO or MRCS pass rates. NTN appointment fell by one-fifth peri-COVID, but overall training outcome metrics remained robust despite the existential threat., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Purpose of the Study: Drivers at work (DW) and Learning Styles (LS) refer to contentious theories that aim to account for differential career development yet seldom feature in assessment. This study aimed to quantify the influence of core surgical trainees' (CST) DW and LS on career progress., Study Design: DW questionnaires and Kolb LS inventories were distributed to 168 CSTs during five consecutive induction boot camps in a single-statutory education body. Primary outcome measures were membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) examination and national training number (NTN) success., Results: Of 108 responses received (response rate 64.3%), 64.8% were male and 35.2% female (p=0.003). DW spectrum was: please people (25.0%), be perfect (21.3%), hurry up (18.5%), be strong (13.9%) and try hard (0%, p<0.001). DW was either equivocal (n=14) or not provided (n=9) by 21.3% of CSTs. LS were: converging (34.3%), accommodating (28.7%), diverging (23.1%) and assimilating (13.9%, p=0.021). Men were more likely to be convergers (29/70, 41.4%), and women divergers (15/38, 39.5%, p=0.018) also preferring team-based LS (accommodating/diverging, 26/38 (68.4%) vs 30/70 (42.9%), p=0.010). MRCS success was not associated with DW (p=0.329) or LS (p=0.459). On multivariable analysis, NTN success was associated with LS (accommodators 64.5%, divergers 32.0%, OR 10.90, p=0.014), scholarly activity (OR 1.71, p=0.001), improving surgical training programme (OR 36.22, p=0.019) and universal ARCP 1 outcome (OR 183.77, p<0.001)., Conclusions: LS are associated with important differences in career progress with accommodator twofold more likely than diverger to achieve NTN., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: A competition ratio (CR) indicates the ratio of total applications for a training post when compared with numbers of specialty posts available. This study aimed to evaluate CRs' influence on National Training Number (NTN) selection in a single UK Statutory Education Body., Methods: Consecutive core surgical trainees numbering 154 (105 men, 49 women; median years since graduation: four) were studied over a 6-year period. Annual specialty specific CRs were obtained from Health Education England's website, and primary outcome measure was UK NTN appointment., Results: Overall NTN appointment was 45.5%. Median CR was 2.36; range Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 0.70 (2020) to Neurosurgery 22.0 (2020). Multivariable analysis revealed that NTN success was associated with: CR (OR 0.46, p=0.003), a single scientific publication (OR 6.25, p=0.001), cohort year (2019, OR 12.65, p=0.003) and Universal Annual Review of Competence Progression Outcome 1 (OR 45.24, p<0.001). CRs predicted NTN appointment with a Youden index defined critical ratio of 4.42; 28.6% (n=8) versus 49.2% (n=62), p=0.018., Conclusion: CRs displayed 30-fold variation, with CRs below 4.42 associated with twofold better NTN promotion, but strong clinical competence and academic reach again emerged as the principal drivers of career advancement., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

This study aimed to analyse the degree of relative variation in speciality-specific competencies required for Certification of Completion of Training (CCT) set by the UK Joint Committee for Surgical Training (JCST) 2021 curriculum. Regulatory body guidance related to operative and non-operative surgical skill competencies required for CCT were analysed and compared. Wide inter-speciality variation was demonstrated in the minimum number of logbook cases (median 815; range 54 to 2100), indexed operations (8; 5 to 24) and procedure-based assessments (35; 6 to 110). Academic competencies related to peer-reviewed publications, communications to learned societies and audits were aligned at zero, zero and three across specialities, respectively. Mandatory courses have been standardised with Advanced Trauma Life Support being the sole pre-requisite CCT for all. JCST certification guidelines have broadly standardised competency domains, yet large discrepancies persist regarding operative indicative numbers and assessments. This article serves as a definitive CCT guide regarding prevailing changes., Competing Interests: Competing interests: OPJ was supported by a joint research fellowship from Royal College of Surgeons England and HEIW., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Aims: Unity of effort is an important component of strategic leadership and management theory associated with Core Surgical Training (CST) outcome. The aim was to determine the impact of team diversity on task completion: a creative design challenge, during CST Boot camp., Methods: Attendees (n = 44) at a single Statutory Education Body's CST Boot camp were stratified into teams related to specialty theme, and set a design challenge as described by Peter Skillman, to build the tallest free-standing tower out of spaghetti (20 pieces), tape (1 m), and string (1 m), with a marshmallow on top in 18 minutes. Primary outcome measure was tower height., Results: Five teams (50%) completed the task with the tallest tower measuring 70 cm (median 51, range 0-70). Median satisfaction with the simulation exercise was 4 (2-5) on a scale of 0 to 5, with 5 corresponding with highest satisfaction. Successful task completion was associated with team surgical specialty (p = 0.032), ethnicity ratio (p = 0.010,), and gender ratio (p = 0.003), respectively. On multivariable analysis, only team gender ratio was independently associated with tower height (Hazard ratio 0.515, 95% confidence interval 0.350-0.759, p = 0.001)., Conclusion: Modern leadership theory emphasizes the important dynamic relationship between individual team members, the team, and task completion. General surgery themed teams with a gender mix were most successful in completing the design challenge; whether relative simulation performance predicts strategic organizational skill and career progression will be the next question., (Copyright © 2021 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Stress and burn-out among surgical trainees has been reported most prevalent in core surgical trainees (CST) and female trainees in particular. This study aimed to identify factors perceived by CSTs to be associated with stress and burnout in those at risk., Design: An open-ended questionnaire was distributed to 79 CSTs and two researchers categorised responses independently, according to Michie's model of workplace stress., Setting: A UK regional postgraduate medical region (Wales)., Participants: Sixty-three responses were received; 42 males, 21 females. The response rate was 79.7%., Results: Inter-rater reliability was good (k=0.792 (79.2%), p<0.001). The most common theme of Michie's model related to CST stress and burnout was career development, with most statements associated with curriculum, examination and academic demands required to attain a CST certificate of completion of training, and higher surgical national training number appointment. This was closely followed by those intrinsic to the job with recurrent discussion around the difficulties balancing work perceived to be service provision (ward work and on-calls), outpatient clinic and operative experience. Conversely, the most common themes relevant to stress and burnout among female trainees were associated with relationships at work (primarily the male-dominated nature of surgery), extraorganisational factors (family-work life balance) and individual characteristics (personality and physiological differences)., Conclusion: CSTs' perceptions regarding the causes of National Health Service related stress and burnout are numerous, and these findings provide a basis for the development of targeted stressor counter-measures to improve training and well-being., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: The first wave of COVID-19 was accompanied by global uncertainty. Delayed presentation of patients to hospitals ensued, with surgical pathologies no exception. This study aimed to assess whether delayed presentations resulted in more complex appendicectomies during the first wave of COVID-19., Methods: Operation notes for all presentations of appendicitis ( n =216) within a single health board (three hospitals) during two three-month periods (control period (pre-COVID) vs COVID pandemic) were analysed, and the severity of appendicitis was recorded as per the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grading system., Results: Presentations of appendicitis were delayed during the COVID period with a median duration of symptoms prior to hospital attendance of two days versus one day ( p =0.003) with individuals presenting with higher median white cell count than during the control period (14.9 vs 13.3, p =0.031). Use of preoperative CT scanning (OR 3.013, 95% CI 1.694-5.358, p <0.001) increased significantly. More complex appendicectomies (AAST grade >1) were performed (OR 2.102, 95% CI 1.155-3.826, p =0.015) with a greater consultant presence during operations (OR 4.740, 95% CI 2.523-8.903, p <0.001). Despite the greater AAST scores recorded during the COVID period, no increase in postoperative complications was observed (OR 1.145, 95% CI 0.404-3.244, p =0.798)., Conclusions: Delayed presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with more complex cases of appendicitis. Important lessons can be learnt from the changes in practice employed as a result of this global pandemic.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the complication rate, specifically bleeding, in patients who received anticoagulation undergoing intravesical botulinum toxin A injections., Material and Methods: This study included all patients (n=430) undergoing intravesical injection of botulinum toxin A in a single secondary care center between January 2013 and December 2018. We recorded the use of anticoagulants/antiplatelets and complications. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association between anticoagulant/antiplatelet use and the complications arising, while controlling for age and sex., Results: We identified 430 procedures in 94 men and 336 women (mean age, 60 years). A total of 79 patients received anticoagulants (18%). Aspirin was the most common anticoagulant (52%). Complication rate in anticoagulated patients was 6% (n=5), and it was 2% in those not on anticoagulants/antiplatelets (n=7). Complications were over 3 times more likely in patients who received anticoagulants/antiplatelets (odds ratio=3.233; 95% confidence interval=0.873, 11.38; p=0.067). There was no difference in the complications between patients with idiopathic symptoms and those with neuropathic overactive bladder. No patients required further surgical intervention, and all except 1 were Clavien-Dindo grade I-II with no mortalities., Conclusion: Anticoagulated patients undergoing intravesical injections have higher complication risks; however, the treatment outcome is unaffected with no significant morbidity/mortality. This is the first study to demonstrate safe outcomes for this subgroup and can assist in decision making and consenting.