Twelve tips for surgeons to maximise medical student learning in the operating theatre

Abstract

Theatre-based learning is an essential component of undergraduate surgical education and offers a wide range of learning opportunities. However, studies have demonstrated that medical students have not always benefited from this holistic learning environment due to many reasons, including intimidation, hierarchies within the surgical environment and fear of making mistakes. The lead surgical educator’s approach is an important influence on the experience and learning of their medical students. These twelve tips are aimed at surgical educators with undergraduate teaching responsibilities. This guidance is based upon evidence from literature and established theories of teaching and learning, supplemented by qualitative interviews with surgeons and medical students. The resulting tips were checked and refined by surgical teaching fellows. These learner-centred tips provide guidance on thorough induction, managing mutual expectations and approaches that optimise teaching and learning in the operating theatre. They are designed to support surgical educators in improving their students’ engagement and learning experiences in this setting.

Keywords:

• Surgery
• best evidence medical education
• roles of teacher
• mentoring
• undergraduate

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the surgeons, students and surgical educators that both inspired and contributed to this work, in particular James Wadkin for helpful feedback. We would also like to acknowledge the support of the Medical Education Research Unit of Imperial College London and Ms Ramya Cooke, librarian of Hillingdon Hospital.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Agra Dilshani Hunukumbure

Dr Agra Dilshani Hunukumbure, MBBS, MRCP, MEd, SFHEA, Senior Clinical Teaching Fellow, Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Honorary Clinical Lecturer, Imperial College London.

Kathleen E. Leedham-Green

Dr Kathleen E. Leedham-Green, PG Cert APHE, MA Clin Ed, FHEA, Medical Education Research Fellow (Education Research), Medical Education Research Unit, Imperial College London.

Abirami Rajamanoharan

Dr Abirami Rajamanoharan, MBBS, BSc(Hons), Clinical Teaching Fellow, Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Kirtan Patel

Mr Kirtan Patel, MBBS, BSc, MRCS, Clinical Teaching Fellow, Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Alison Tang

Dr Alison Tang, MBBS, BSc, Clinical Teaching Fellow, Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Saroj Das

Professor Saroj Das, MS, FRCS, MNAMS, MPhil, Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Ex-Director of Clinical Studies, Imperial College London.