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A needs assessment for simulation in African surgical education

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Abstract

Introduction

There is a critical need for comprehensive surgical training in African countries given the unmet surgical burden of disease in this region. Collaborative and progressive initiatives in global surgical education will have the greatest impact on trainees. Little is known about surgical education needs from the perspective of practicing surgeons and trainees in low-middle-income countries (LMICs). Even less is known about the potential role for simulation to augment training.

Methods

A modified Delphi methodology with 2 rounds of responses was employed to survey program directors (PD) and associate program directors (APD) of Pan-African Association of Christian Surgeons (PAACS) general surgery residency programs across eight low-middle-income countries in Africa. 3 PD/APDs and 2 surgical residents participated in semi-structured interviews centered around the role of simulation in training. Descriptive analysis was performed to elicit key themes and illustrative examples.

Results

The survey of program directors revealed that teaching residents the psychomotor skills need to perform intracorporeal suturing was both high priority and desired in multiple training sites. Other high priority skills were laparoscopic camera driving and medial visceral rotation. The interviews revealed a specific desire to perform laparoscopic surgery and a need for a simulation curriculum to familiarize staff and trainees with laparoscopic techniques. Several barriers to laparoscopic surgery exist, such as lack of staff familiarity with the equipment, lack of public buy in, and lack of generalizable and adaptable educational modules. Trainees saw utility in the use of simulation to optimize time in the operating room and sought opportunities to improve their laparoscopic skills.

Conclusion

Faculty and surgical trainees in LMICs have interest in learning advanced surgical techniques, such as laparoscopy. Developing a simulation curriculum tailored to the trainees’ local context has the potential to fill this need.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the members of the Pan-African Association of Christian Surgeons for their time responding to surveys and participating in these interviews.

Funding

No funding source was used to conduct this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, 1500 E Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5331, USA

    Joy E. Obayemi, John Donkersloot, Mary Byrnes & Grace J. Kim

  2. University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

    Erin Kim

  3. Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons, Palatine, IL, USA

    Keir Thelander

Authors
  1. Joy E. Obayemi
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  2. John Donkersloot
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  3. Erin Kim
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  4. Keir Thelander
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  5. Mary Byrnes
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  6. Grace J. Kim
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joy E. Obayemi.

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Joy Obayemi, John Donkersloot, Erin Kim, Keir Thelander, Mary Byrnes, and Grace Kim have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Obayemi, J.E., Donkersloot, J., Kim, E. et al. A needs assessment for simulation in African surgical education. Surg Endosc 38, 1654–1661 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-023-10665-y

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