The Effect of a Surgical Skills Course on Confidence Levels of Rural General Practitioners: An Observational Study

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of a short surgical skills course on general practitioners' confidence levels to perform procedural skills.

Design Prospective observational study.

Setting The Clinical Evaluation and Training Centre, a practical skills-based educational facility, at The University of Western Australia.

Participants Medical practitioners who participated in these courses. Nurses, physiotherapists, and medical students were excluded. The response rate was 61% with 61 participants providing 788 responses for pre- and postcourse confidence levels regarding various surgical skills.

Intervention One- to two-day surgical skills courses consisting of presentations, demonstrations, and practical stations, facilitated by specialists.

Main Outcome Measures A two-page precourse and postcourse questionnaire was administered to medical practitioners on the day. Participants rated their confidence levels to perform skills addressed during the course on a 4-point Likert scale.

Results Of the 788 responses regarding confidence levels, 621 were rated as improved postcourse, 163 were rated as no change, and 4 were rated as lower postcourse. Seven of the courses showed a 25% median increase in confidence levels, and one course demonstrated a 50% median increase. All courses showed statistically significant results (p < 0.001).

Conclusion A short surgical skills course resulted in a statistically significant improvement in the confidence levels of rural general practitioners to perform these skills.

Keywords

surgical procedures - family physician - training - teaching - rural health

Notes

The author (P.B.) is not a recipient of a research scholarship. This paper is not based on a previous communication to a society or meeting.

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