Twelve tips for medical students to maximise learning in theatre

Dear Sir

We read an article by Weinberg et al. (2015) titled “Twelve tips for medical students to maximise learning in theatre” with interest.

Maximising the learning in surgery has become more important within a curriculum where time in theatre is limited, syllabuses have changed and surgery remains as competitive as ever. As aspiring surgeons this can be frustrating. We think Weinberg et al. (2015) provide useful tips which students can implement to ensure theatre time is beneficial.

Whilst maximising learning in theatre we must always ensure professionalism and patient safety. We have reflected on a personal experience in theatre which contextualises the tips given by Weinberg et al. (2015). We have cross-referenced their points with our reflection.

We had been asked to scrub in with a surgeon whom S.D. was keen to impress. Having been in these theatres previously we knew the surgical department, had worked in a sterile environment and was familiar with surgical attire (points 2, 3 and 6). Having met the patient prior to surgery and read up on the procedure (points 1 and 2) the surgeon was impressed with our anatomical knowledge and understating of the patient’s reasons in opting for the surgery (point 8).

During the operation our scrub hat touched the sterile covering on the theatre light. Despite feeling embarrassed we spoke up before patient safety was jeopardised (point 9). The surgeon was understanding and grateful for our honesty. He explained that previous students had only admitted to similar incidents after being overcome by guilt in the hours following the operation, putting the patient at risk and potentially damaging the surgeon’s reputation.

We believe this reflection underlines the importance of point 9 by Weinberg et al. “be aware of the professional, ethical, and legal issues in surgery”. It also raises an additional point which, despite falling within the bounds of ethics and professionalism, must be reiterated as evidenced by the surgeon’s previous experience: always be honest about your mistakes.

This is an essential message for all the medical students as we move through education into a healthcare system in which we strive for transparency.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.