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Structured Ultrasonography Workshop for Breast Surgeons: Is It An Effective Training Tool?

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Abstract

Background

Effective training is essential to ensure satisfactory performance in surgeon-performed ultrasonography (US) and guided breast needle biopsies (USGBB). This study aimed to determine the efficacy of conducting a structured workshop in the teaching of breast US application and in guided biopsy techniques.

Methods

Consenting participants of the US for Surgeons Workshop at the General Surgeons Australia 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting were recruited. The workshop was divided into theoretical and practical components. For the theoretical component, brief pretests were administered, followed by lecture series, and then posttests. For the practical component, preinstructional USGBBs performed on breast phantoms and turkey breasts implanted with simulated lesions were assessed, followed by tutorials; it was concluded with postinstructional biopsy assessment. Points were deducted for simulated chest wall hits (complications). Previous experience and training in USBGG were recorded. Pre- and postlecture/instructional results were compared and the correlation tested using Student’s t-test (p < 0.05).

Results

In all, 14 participants were recruited: 71% had no to moderate experience with USGBB. For the theoretical component, 33% improvement over the pretest (p < 0.001) was seen across all levels of experience. For the practical component, there was 56% improvement after instruction (p = 0.001), which was most marked in the moderate experience group (83%, p = 0.03). Two complications were recorded for the least experienced group prior to instructions, but no complications were seen following instructions.

Conclusions

Structured workshops are effective for training surgeons in US application and USGBB and should be considered as part of standardized training guidelines and credentialing. Theory and practical components demonstrated similar efficacy and should be considered integral components in training programs. Formal training decreases complication rates, especially among the inexperienced.

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Acknowledgments

We thank General Surgeons Australia (GSA) and Prof. Daryl Wall, Director of Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital for assistance in the conduct of the ultrasonography workshop at Coolum, September 2008.

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Author notes

  1. Ian C. Bennett

    Present address: , 101 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane, 4000, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Breast and Endocrine Surgery Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital, 199 Ipswich Road, Buranda, QLD, 4102, Australia

    Michael T. Law & Ian C. Bennett

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  1. Michael T. Law
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  2. Ian C. Bennett
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Correspondence to Ian C. Bennett.

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Law, M.T., Bennett, I.C. Structured Ultrasonography Workshop for Breast Surgeons: Is It An Effective Training Tool?. World J Surg 34, 549–554 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-009-0342-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-009-0342-6

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