Colorectal surgeon ASCRS member Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated. This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.
All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
Antoine Lagunes-Gasca: This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.
Purpose/Background: This project aims to address the educational challenges faced by general surgery residents at the Hospital Regional de Pemex Villahermosa, particularly in the subspecialty of coloproctology. Current educational structures lack proper planning, mentorship, and the incorporation of advanced technological tools, such as clinical simulators. The purpose of this project is to implement a competency-based educational program designed to improve both clinical skills and the overall well-being of residents. The need for such a program is rooted in the lack of standardized training methods and the excessive workloads that hinder effective learning and professional growth.
Methods/Interventions: The proposed educational intervention is structured around four key components: curriculum revision, mentor training, pilot implementation, and continuous evaluation. The curriculum will be updated to include competency-based learning objectives aligned with international standards. Mentor training workshops will focus on enhancing the mentorship roles of senior medical staff, particularly in the use of clinical simulators. The pilot program will incorporate active learning methodologies such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and simulations. Residents’ progress will be continuously assessed using the Educationally Sensitive Patient Outcome (ESPO) model to ensure the program's alignment with both educational and clinical outcomes.
Results/Outcomes: Preliminary results from the pilot phase indicate a marked improvement in the residents' clinical decision-making and procedural skills. The introduction of clinical simulators has led to a reduction in clinical errors and increased confidence among residents when performing complex procedures. Additionally, both residents and mentors reported higher levels of satisfaction with the revised educational structure. Mentors also noted a more structured and collaborative learning environment, enhancing the overall educational experience.
Conclusion/Discussion: The initial outcomes of this competency-based educational program demonstrate that structured interventions, such as mentor training and the use of advanced simulation technologies, significantly improve clinical competency in coloproctology. Moreover, the reduction of workload and elimination of punitive practices have positively impacted resident well-being, contributing to a more effective learning environment. This program has the potential to be replicated in other medical specialties, offering a model for improving both medical education and patient care outcomes.
