Nominal group consensus process to determine Association of Surgeons in Training quality indicators for integrated clinical academic surgical training across the UK.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT)
Nominal group consensus process to determine Association of Surgeons in Training quality indicators for integrated clinical academic surgical training across the UK.
Project description:BackgroundPre-hospital advanced airway management is a complex intervention composed of numerous steps, interactions, and variables that can be delivered to a high standard in the pre-hospital setting. Standard research methods have struggled to evaluate this complex intervention because of considerable heterogeneity in patients, providers, and techniques. In this study, we aimed to develop a set of quality indicators to evaluate pre-hospital advanced airway management.MethodsWe used a modified nominal group technique consensus process comprising three email rounds and a consensus meeting among a group of 16 international experts. The final set of quality indicators was assessed for usability according to the National Quality Forum Measure Evaluation Criteria.ResultsSeventy-seven possible quality indicators were identified through a narrative literature review with a further 49 proposed by panel experts. A final set of 17 final quality indicators composed of three structure-, nine process-, and five outcome-related indicators, was identified through the consensus process. The quality indicators cover all steps of pre-hospital advanced airway management from preoxygenation and use of rapid sequence induction to the ventilatory state of the patient at hospital delivery, prior intubation experience of provider, success rates and complications.ConclusionsWe identified a set of quality indicators for pre-hospital advanced airway management that represent a practical tool to measure, report, analyse, and monitor quality and performance of this complex intervention.
Project description:The application of the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011 trial (Z11) has resulted in fewer completion axillary lymph node dissections (ALNDs) for select patients. We hypothesize that the application of Z11 may result in fewer ALND cases for surgeons in training.In the setting of an academic cancer center incorporating Z11 into routine practice, we compared the total number of ALND performed in a pre-Z11 period (January 2007-April 2011, 52 mo) and post-Z11 period (April 2011-February 2014, 34 mo). We also identified the number of patients in the post-Z11 era in whom ALND was omitted as a result of Z11. Clinical and pathologic characteristics among these groups were analyzed.A total of 279 and 191 ALNDs were performed in the pre-Z11 and post-Z11 groups, respectively. Variables were similar among these groups with respect to demographics, tumor characteristics, and surgeries performed. There was no difference in the monthly rates of ALND between groups-5.37 cases/mo (pre-Z11) and 5.62 cases/mo (post-Z11), P = 0.52. We identified a total of 53 patients for whom ALND was omitted due to Z11 application in the post-Z11 period, representing a potential 21.7% decrease (53/191 + 53) in the number of ALNDs in this period.Although the application of Z11 could potentially impact surgical training with a 21.7% decrease in ALND cases (53/191 + 53), the surgical case volume at an academic cancer center absorbs this decrease and maintains consistent levels of training for ALND.
Project description:Academic global surgery is a rapidly growing field that aims to improve access to safe surgical care worldwide. However, no universally accepted competencies exist to inform this developing field. A consensus-based approach, with input from a diverse group of experts, is needed to identify essential competencies that will lead to standardization in this field. A task force was set up using snowball sampling to recruit a broad group of content and context experts in global surgical and perioperative care. A draft set of competencies was revised through the modified Delphi process with two rounds of anonymous input. A threshold of 80% consensus was used to determine whether a competency or sub-competency learning objective was relevant to the skillset needed within academic global surgery and perioperative care. A diverse task force recruited experts from 22 countries to participate in both rounds of the Delphi process. Of the n = 59 respondents completing both rounds of iterative polling, 63% were from low- or middle-income countries. After two rounds of anonymous feedback, participants reached consensus on nine core competencies and 31 sub-competency objectives. The greatest consensus pertained to competency in ethics and professionalism in global surgery (100%) with emphasis on justice, equity, and decolonization across multiple competencies. This Delphi process, with input from experts worldwide, identified nine competencies which can be used to develop standardized academic global surgery and perioperative care curricula worldwide. Further work needs to be done to validate these competencies and establish assessments to ensure that they are taught effectively.
Project description:IntroductionThe production of quality surgical evidence and the development of academic surgery have emerged as priorities for the solution of current barriers to achieving the objectives of global surgery. The academic training and scientific production of academic surgeons is essential for the production of new knowledge. In Latin America, specifically in Colombia, there are no studies that have analyzed this production.MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional bibliometric study was carried out, in which the Colombian Ministry of Science database was consulted with the validated results up to July 2021. In the search section for research profiles, the key word "Surgery" was used, and all associated CvLAC (profiles where the information of Colombian researchers can be found) and their registered products were reviewed.ResultsA total of 1701 researchers in surgery were registered in the database of the Colombian Ministry of Science, of which only 380 corresponded to academic surgeons with correct registration. Only 6 (1.6%) were found to have a Ph.D., 45 (11.8%) a fellow, and 20 (5.3%) a master's degree. 79.5% (n = 302) of Colombian academic surgeons are men. Only 10.2% (n = 39) are formally categorized as researchers. 45.3% (n = 172) have not published scientific articles. The total number of published articles was 2386, and most of them were published in Q4 journals (n = 1121; 47%) or not indexed by SJR/Publindex (n = 517; 21.6%). Only 3 surgeons have more than 100 articles. 9.5% have published at least 1 book, and 40% have participated in at least 1 project.ConclusionsAccording to data registered with the Colombian Ministry of Science, a large part of the scientific production of Colombian academic surgeons is concentrated in scientific articles, most of which are found in Q4 or non-categorized journals. Approximately half of the academic surgeons have not published at least one scientific article. However, one fifth of those who have, have published at least 8 articles. Less than 20% of surgeons have additional postgraduate studies, and only 1 in 4 academic surgeons is a woman.
Project description:ObjectivesTo define the core competencies essential for specialist training in neurocritical care in China.DesignModified Delphi method and nominal group (NG) technique.SettingNational.ParticipantsA total of 1094 respondents from 33 provinces in China participated in the online survey. A NG of 11 members was organised by the Neuro-Critical Care Committee affiliated with the Chinese Association of Critical Care Physicians and the National Center for Healthcare Quality Management in Neurological Diseases.Results1094 respondents from 33 provinces in China participated in the online survey. A formal list containing 329 statements was generated for the rating by a NG. After five rounds of NG meetings and one round of comments and iterative review, 198 core competencies (54 on neurological diseases, 64 on general medical diseases, 42 on monitoring of practical procedures, 20 on professionalism and system management, five on ethical and legal aspects, three on the principles of research and certification and 10 on scoring systems) formed the final list.ConclusionBy using consensus techniques, we have developed a list of core competencies for neurocritical care training, which may serve as a reference for future specialist training programmes in China.
Project description:BackgroundMeasuring care processes is an important component of any effort to improve care quality, however knowing the appropriate metrics to measure is a challenge both in Ireland and other countries. Quality of midwifery care depends on the expert knowledge of the midwife and her/his contribution to women and their babies' safety in the healthcare environment. Therefore midwives need to be able to clearly articulate and measure what it is that they do, the dimensions of their professional practice frequently referred to as midwifery care processes. The objective of this paper is to report on the development and prioritisation of a national suite of Quality Care Metrics (QCM), and their associated indicators, for midwifery care processes in Ireland.MethodsThe study involved four discrete, yet complimentary, phases; i) a systematic literature review to identify midwifery care process metrics and their associated measurement indicators; ii) a two-round, online Delphi survey of midwives to develop consensus on the set of midwifery care process metrics to be measured; iii) a two-round online Delphi survey of midwives to develop consensus on the indicators that will be used to measure prioritised metrics; and iv) a face-to-face consensus meeting with midwives to review the findings and achieve consensus on the final suite of metrics and indicators.ResultsFollowing the consensus meeting, 18 metrics and 93 indicators were prioritised for inclusion in the suite of QCM Midwifery Metrics. These metrics span the pregnancy, birth and postpartum periods.ConclusionThe development of this suite of process metrics and indicators for midwifery care provides an opportunity for measuring the safety and quality of midwifery care in Ireland and for adapting internationally. This initial work should be followed by a rigorous evaluation of the impact of the new suite of metrics on midwifery care processes.
Project description:PurposeTo compare the surgical duration for routine phacoemulsification surgeries in residents with and without virtual simulator training.MethodsRetrospective cohort study of operative times of routine phacoemulsification cataract surgeries performed by 29 different third-year residents rotating at one academic institution. One group underwent mandatory virtual cataract surgery simulator training (SIM) in their second year of residency before starting surgeries while the other group did not undergo any simulator training (NOSIM). Outcomes measured were comparative surgical times and vitreous loss rates between groups in their third year of residency.Results722 surgeries were included. Surgeries in the SIM group were on average 6.7 min (min) shorter compared to the NOSIM group (P = 0.0001). Although both groups required less time for surgery over the course of the academic year, regression analysis showed that NOSIM group residents overall required 17% longer time for an uncomplicated clear corneal phacoemulsification surgery (incidence rate ratio 1.17; p = 0.0001). In the final month of their residency residents in the SIM group (32.2 ± 3 min) were 9 min faster than NOSIM peers (41.2 ± 3 min mean ± SE; p = 0.02). Vitreous loss rates were 1.4% in the SIM group and 3.6% in the NOSIM group (p = 0.06).Conclusion and importanceEarly and continuous implementation of mandatory virtual simulator surgical training before starting intraocular surgeries significantly decreases operative times in third year residents learning phacoemulsification compared to non-simulator trained peers.
Project description:BackgroundConsiderable health inequities documented in Israel between communities, populations and regions, undermine the rights of all citizens to optimal health. The first step towards health equity is agreement on a set of national indicators, reflecting equity in healthcare provision and health outcomes, and allowing monitoring of the impact of interventions on the reduction of disparities. We describe the process of reaching a consensus on a defined set of national equity indicators.MethodsThe study was conducted between January 2019 and June 2020, in a multistage design: (A) Identifying appropriate and available inequity measures via interviews with stakeholders. (B) Agreement on the screening criteria (public health importance; gap characteristics; potential for change; public interest) and relative weighting. (C) Constructing the consultation framework as an online, 3-round Delphi technique, with a range of experts recruited from the health, welfare and education sectors.ResultsParticipants were of diverse age, gender, geographic location, religion and ethnicity, and came from academia, healthcare provision, government ministries and patient representative groups. Thirty measures of inequity, presented to participants, represented the following domains: Health promotion (11 indicators), acute and chronic morbidity (11), life expectancy and mortality (2), health infrastructures and affordability of care (4), education and employment (2). Of the 77 individuals contacted, 75 (97%) expressed willingness to participate, and 55 (73%) completed all three scoring rounds. The leading ten indicators were: Diabetes care, childhood obesity, adult obesity, distribution of healthcare personnel, fatal childhood injuries, cigarette smoking, infant mortality, ability to afford care, access to psychotherapy and distribution of hospital beds. Agreement among raters, measured as intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), was 0.75.ConclusionA diverse range of consultants reached a consensus on the most important national equity indicators, including both clinical and system indicators. Results should be used to guide governmental decision-making and inter-sectoral strategies, furthering the pursuit of a more equitable healthcare system.