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The Current Evidence for Defining and Assessing Effectiveness of Surgical Educators: A Systematic Review

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  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

Surgical educator effectiveness is valued but lacks an operational definition. Clearly defining attributes consistent with effective surgical educators allows for the development of professional activities directed to nurture these qualities. Our aim was to identify the literature defining qualities of an effective surgical educator, and tools to measure effectiveness.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Medline, Scopus and Academic Search Complete for English language articles from 1 July 2009–1 July 2019. Two reviewers screened all abstracts for relevance and read full text of selected articles to identify included studies. Inclusion criteria were description/definition of an effective surgical educator or description of assessment/measurement of effectiveness in surgical educators. Data extracted included: study design, participants, definition/description of qualities of an effective surgical educator, qualitative or quantitative methods to assess surgical educators.

Results

Initial search identified 8086 articles. Of these, 2357 articles were excluded as duplicates and 5729 abstracts screened with 5638 excluded due to irrelevance. Full text review was performed for 91 articles to assess eligibility, 23 met inclusion criteria. The majority (74%) did not clearly define an effective surgical educator. Themes from six studies that determined important qualities include: communication, leadership skills, professionalism, respect, positive learning climate, and brief-intraoperative teaching-debrief model. One validated assessment tool was identified.

Conclusions

There is little published work defining or assessing effective surgical educators. Establishment of a positive learning climate and excellent communication skills continue to be important qualities that define surgical educator effectiveness.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Amy Taylor, MLS, Medial Librarian at the Houston Methodist Hospital for her help with the search.

Funding

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, 6565 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Karen J. Dickinson & Kevin Y. Pei

  2. George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, D.C., USA

    Barbara L. Bass

Authors
  1. Karen J. Dickinson
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  2. Barbara L. Bass
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  3. Kevin Y. Pei
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karen J. Dickinson.

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Appendix 1. Search strategies

Appendix 1. Search strategies

  1. 1.

    PubMed

((("Surgeons"[Mesh] OR (surgeon[Text Word] OR surgeons[Text Word])) OR (surgeon[Other Term] OR surgeons[Other Term])) AND ((("Health Educators"[Mesh] OR "Faculty, Medical"[Mesh] OR "Faculty"[Mesh]) OR (Educator[Text Word] OR teacher[Text Word] OR educates[Text Word] OR lectures[Text Word] OR lecturer[Text Word] OR teaches[Text Word] OR taught[Text Word] OR teaching[Text Word] OR teach[Text Word] OR educate[Text Word] OR educators[Text Word] OR lecturing[Text Word] OR didactics[Text Word] OR didactic[Text Word])) OR (Educator[Other Term] OR teacher[Other Term] OR lectures[Other Term] OR lecturer[Other Term] OR taught[Other Term] OR teaching[Other Term] OR teach[Other Term] OR educate[Other Term] OR educators[Other Term] OR lecturing[Other Term] OR didactics[Other Term] OR didactic[Other Term]))) Filters: published in the last 10 years

  1. 2.

    Academic search complete

SU ( Educator OR teacher OR educates OR lectures OR lecturer OR teaches OR taught OR teaching OR teach OR educate OR educators OR lecturing OR didactics OR didactic ) OR TI ( Educator OR teacher OR educates OR lectures OR lecturer OR teaches OR taught OR teaching OR teach OR educate OR educators OR lecturing OR didactics OR didactic ) OR AB ( Educator OR teacher OR educates OR lectures OR lecturer OR teaches OR taught OR teaching OR teach OR educate OR educators OR lecturing OR didactics OR didactic )

AND

SU ( surgeon OR surgeons ) OR TI ( surgeon OR surgeons ) OR AB ( surgeon OR surgeons )

  1. 3.

    Scopus

(TITLE-ABS-KEY ( surgeon OR surgeons ) ) AND ( TITLE-ABS-KEY ( educator OR teacher OR educates OR lectures OR lecturer OR teaches OR taught OR teaching OR teach OR educate OR educators OR lecturing OR didactics OR didactic ) ) AND ( LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR , 2019 ) OR LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR , 2018 ) OR LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR , 2017 ) OR LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR , 2016 ) OR LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR , 2015 ) OR LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR , 2014 ) OR LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR , 2013 ) OR LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR , 2012 ) OR LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR , 2011 ) OR LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR , 2010 ) OR LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR , 2009)

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Dickinson, K.J., Bass, B.L. & Pei, K.Y. The Current Evidence for Defining and Assessing Effectiveness of Surgical Educators: A Systematic Review. World J Surg 44, 3214–3223 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-020-05617-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-020-05617-9

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