Tools for measuring technical skills during gynaecologic surgery: a scoping review

Background Standardised assessment is key to structured surgical training. Currently, there is no consensus on which surgical assessment tool to use in live gynaecologic surgery. The purpose of this review is to identify assessment tools measuring technical skills in gynaecologic surgery and evaluate the measurement characteristics of each tool. Method We utilized the scoping review methodology and searched PubMed, Medline, Embase and Cochrane. Inclusion criteria were studies that analysed assessment tools in live gynaecologic surgery. Kane’s validity argument was applied to evaluate the assessment tools in the included studies. Results Eight studies out of the 544 identified fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The assessment tools were categorised as global rating scales, global and procedure rating scales combined, procedure-specific rating scales or as a non-procedure-specific error assessment tool. Conclusion This scoping review presents the current different tools for observational assessment of technical skills in intraoperative, gynaecologic surgery. This scoping review can serve as a guide for surgical educators who want to apply a scale or a specific tool in surgical assessment.

The “virtual OR:” creation of a surgical video-based gynaecologic surgery teaching session to improve medical student orientation and supplement surgical learning during COVID-19

Implication Statement The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in changes to clinical clerkship delivery including decreased surgical exposure. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Dalhousie University developed a novel, resident-led learning experience using a curated presentation of operative footage. This session aimed to improve medical students’ orientation to the operative environment and supplement teaching on pelvic anatomy and gynaecologic surgery in response to decreased exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical students perceived this session as valuable and felt it improved their preparedness for the operating room. This initiative has the potential to improve medical student orientation to the operative environment.