Designing for student autonomy combining theory and clinical practice - a qualitative study with a faculty perspective.

BACKGROUND: Although extensive research exists about students' clinical learning, there is a lack of translation and integration of this knowledge into clinical educational practice. As a result, improvements may not be implemented and thus contribute to students' learning. The present study aimed to explore the nature of clinical faculty members' learning related to how they apply research about student autonomy. METHODS: A course, "Designing learning for students' development of autonomy in clinical practice" was conducted for faculty responsible for students' clinical education. Within the frame of the course the participants designed a project and planned how they would implement it in their clinical context. Fourteen clinical faculty members participated in the study. The participants' interpretation of the educational intervention, which combines complex theory with the equally complex clinical practice, was explored by studying how the participants' approaches and understanding of the facilitation of autonomy were manifested in their projects. The projects in the form of reports and oral presentations were analyzed using qualitative content analysis together with an abductive approach. FINDINGS: One identified domain was "Characteristics of the design and content of the projects". This domain was signified by two themes with different foci: Preparing the soil for facilitating student autonomy; and Cultivating opportunities for students to actively strive for autonomy. A second identified domain, "Embracing the meaning of facilitating autonomy" was connected to participants understanding of theories underlying how to support the development of autonomy. This domain contained two themes: Connection between activities and autonomy is self-evident and Certain factors can explain and facilitate development of autonomy. CONCLUSION: Education directed to strategic clinical faculty members to develop evidence-based approaches to student learning can be productive. To succeed there is a need to emphasize faculty members individual understanding of actual research as well as learning theories in general. Faculty trying to reinforce changes are dependent on their own mandate, the structure in the clinic, and recognition of their work in the clinical context. To achieve a potential continuity and sustainability of implemented changes the implementation processes must be anchored throughout the actual organization.

Professional self-determination of future dentists in the modern realities of Ukraine.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To research how the future dentists' professional self-determination (reflects the cognitive-reflexive component of higher medical education applicants' readiness to use digital technologies in their professional activities) develops within the formation of information technology competence in the modern realities of Ukraine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The author's questionnaire consisted of 15 questions. The questionnaire surveys covered 98 future dentists who studied 'Medical Informatics' and 'Information Technology in Dentistry' at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University in the September-December 2017-2018 and September- December 2022-2023 academic years. The research results were assessed according to the algorithm described. The research used such methods as analysis, synthesis, comparison, concretisation, systematisation, and generalisation, as well as methods of mathematical statistics for evaluating data, namely correlation analysis, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Cronbach's alpha, Fisher's test (F-test of equality of variances), Student's t-test and ranking. RESULTS: Results: The research found positive dynamics of the professional self-determination levels (in 2022 compared to 2017, the low level decreased by 20.5%, the satisfactory level - by 19.0%, the average level increased by 20.6%, the high level - by 18.9%) and their quality, which within the research increased by 39.5%. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: By forming information technology competence, future dentists changing the priorities of professional self-determination in the modern realities of Ukraine and acquiring readiness (within the cognitive-reflexive component) to use digital technologies in professional activities.

Autonomia profissional do enfermeiro na atenção primária à saúde: perspectivas para a prática avançada / Professional autonomy of nurses in primary health care: perspectives for advanced practice / Autonomía profesional de los enfermeros en la atención primaria de salud: perspectivas para la práctica avanzada

Objetivo: Descrever como os enfermeiros atuantes na Atenção Primária identificam sua autonomia profissional no desenvolvimento das práticas de Enfermagem. Métodos: Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória, descritiva, de abordagem qualitativa. Participaram de entrevistas online 28 enfermeiros que atuam na Atenção Primária de um município do Sul do Brasil, entre o período de outubro de 2020 até fevereiro de 2021. Para tratamento dos dados, foi utilizada a análise de conteúdo temática. Resultados: Emergiram duas categorias: 1) Resolutividade das práticas da Enfermagem; 2) Respaldo nas regulamentações profissionais e evidências científicas. A Enfermagem dispõe de maior autonomia frente à atenção à saúde da mulher, Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis e no cuidado à pessoa com feridas, pois no momento da consulta do enfermeiro, despontam habilidades e competências para a tomada de decisão na prática clínica. Em relação à regulamentação para exercício profissional, os profissionais enfatizaram a importância dos protocolos para respaldar as ações. Conclusão: O protagonismo do enfermeiro e sucesso nas experiências indicam um caminho promissor para a discussão e implementação da Enfermagem de Prática Avançada no Brasil. (AU)

Objective: To describe how nurses working in Primary Care identify their professional autonomy in the development of Nursing practices. Methods: This is an exploratory, descriptive research with a qualitative approach. Twenty-eight nurses who work in Primary Care in a municipality in southern Brazil participated in online interviews, between October 2020 and February 2021. For data processing, thematic content analysis was used. Results: Two categories emerged: 1) Resolving nursing practices; 2) Support in professional regulations and scientific evidence. Nursing has greater autonomy in the care of women's health, Sexually Transmitted Infections and in the care of the person with wounds, because at the time of the nurse's consultation, skills and competences for decision-making in clinical practice emerge. Regarding regulation for professional practice, professionals emphasized the importance of protocols to support actions. Conclusion: The role of nurses and success in the experiences indicate a promising path for the discussion and implementation of Advanced Practice Nursing in Brazil. (AU)

Objetivo: Describir cómo los enfermeros que actúan en la Atención Primaria identifican su autonomía profesional en el desarrollo de las prácticas de Enfermería. Métodos: Se trata de una investigación exploratoria, descriptiva, con abordaje cualitativo. Veintiocho enfermeros que actúan en la Atención Primaria de un municipio del sur de Brasil participaron de entrevistas en línea, entre octubre de 2020 y febrero de 2021. Para el procesamiento de datos, se utilizó el análisis de contenido temático. Resultados: Emergieron dos categorías: 1) Prácticas resolutivas de enfermería; 2) Apoyo en normativa profesional y evidencia científica. La enfermería tiene mayor autonomía en el cuidado de la salud de la mujer, Infecciones de Transmisión Sexual y en el cuidado de la persona con heridas, porque en el momento de la consulta del enfermero emergen habilidades y competencias para la toma de decisiones en la práctica clínica. En cuanto a la regulación para la práctica profesional, los profesionales destacaron la importancia de los protocolos para apoyar las acciones. Conclusión: El papel de los enfermeros y el éxito de las experiencias indican un camino promisorio para la discusión e implementación de la Enfermería de Práctica Avanzada en Brasil. (AU)

Actitud de los fisioterapeutas acerca del acceso directo y su implementación a través de un cambio en la política pública en Puerto Rico / Attitude of physiotherapists about direct access and its implementation through a change in public policy in Puerto Rico

Objetivos: Explorar las actitudes de los fisioterapeutas de Puerto Rico: 1) hacia el acceso directo (AD), 2) las implicaciones para la profesión, la práctica y los servicios de salud, y 3) la implementación del AD a través de un cambio en política pública. Métodos: El diseño fue exploratorio transversal, no experimental y con un enfoque cuantitativo. Los participantes eran fisioterapeutas con licencia vigente, mayores de 21 años de edad, con cualquier grado académico en fisioterapia y que actualmente ejercen la práctica en Puerto Rico. Fueron excluidos fisioterapeutas sin experiencia clínica, que estaban completando un grado doctoral transicional o con experiencia ejerciendo con AD. Para abordar los objetivos de investigación, se construyó un cuestionario, cuyo contenido fue validado por 4 fisioterapeutas expertos utilizando el modelo de Lawshe modificado por Tristán. Resultados: Participaron de este estudio 100 fisioterapeutas. El 96% de los participantes estuvo de acuerdo con la implementación del AD en Puerto Rico. El 83% indicó estar preparado para ejercer la profesión por AD. El 55% entienden que fisioterapeutas con grado doctoral están más preparados para ejercer por AD. El 59% indicó que el AD debe estar restringido por nivel educativo y/o experiencia. Conclusión: La actitud de los fisioterapeutas en Puerto Rico respecto al AD resultó ser favorable, independientemente del grado académico, ya que están a favor con incorporar el AD a la fisioterapia, se sienten preparados para ejercer por AD y consideran el AD beneficioso para los pacientes, la práctica y la profesión. (AU)

Objectives: To explore the attitudes of physiotherapists in Puerto Rico: (1) towards direct access (DA), (2) the implications for the profession, practice, and health services, and (3) the implementation of DA through a change in public policy. Methods: The design was cross-sectional exploratory, non-experimental, and quantitative in nature. Participants were licensed physiotherapists, over 21 years old, with any academic degree in physiotherapy, currently practicing in Puerto Rico. Physiotherapists without clinical experience, those completing a transitional doctoral degree, or with experience practicing with DA were excluded. To address the research objectives, a questionnaire was constructed, whose content was validated by 4 expert physiotherapists using the Lawshe model modified by Tristán. Results: One hundred physiotherapists participated in this study. 96% of participants agreed with the implementation of DA in Puerto Rico. However, only 83% indicated being prepared to practice the profession through DA. 55% understood that physiotherapists with doctoral degrees were better prepared to practice through DA. 59% indicated that DA should be restricted based on educational level and/or experience. Conclusion: The attitude of physiotherapists in Puerto Rico towards DA was favorable regardless of academic degree. They are in favor of incorporating DA into physiotherapy, feel prepared to practice through DA, and consider it beneficial for patients, practice, and the profession. (AU)

Autonomia do enfermeiro no exercício das práticas de enfermagem na atenção primária à saúde / Nurses autonomy in the exercise of nursing practices in primary health care / Autonomía de las enfermeras en el ejercicio de las prácticas de enfermería en la atención primaria de salud

Objetivo: Compreender a autonomia do enfermeiro quanto as suas responsabilidades normativas legais no exercício das práticas de enfermagem na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) do Pará. Métodos: Estudo observacional, de delineamento transversal qualitativo, realizado em três municípios do estado do Pará. A coleta de dados foi realizada de outubro de 2020 a janeiro de 2021. Os participantes foram os enfermeiros da Atenção Primária à Saúde. Foi realizada entrevista, com roteiro semiestruturado. Foi realizada análise temática dos conteúdos, com auxílio da ferramenta IRaMuTeq Resultados: Emergiram cinco categorias temáticas: 1) Autonomia do enfermeiro no contexto da prescrição de outro profissional na APS; 2) Autonomia para prescrição nos programas e exames na APS; 3) Áreas de identificação da autonomia profissional na APS; 4) As práticas preventivas na APS e suas dificuldades; e 5) Limites da prática profissional do enfermeiro na APS. Conclusão: Os enfermeiros da APS do Pará têm práticas de enfermagem individuais com diferentes tipos de autonomia, cujos cuidados colocam em prática com o respaldo dos protocolos e regulamentos técnicos. Contudo, há necessidade de ampliar e fortalecer parcerias com outros atores sociais municipais. (AU)

Objective: To understand the autonomy of nurses regarding their legal regulatory responsibilities in the exercise of nursing practices in Primary Health Care (PHC) in Pará. Methods: Observational study with qualitative cross-sectional design, conducted in three municipalities of the state of Pará. Data collection was carried out from October 2020 to January 2021. The participants were Primary Health Care nurses. Interviews were conducted, with a semi-structured script. A thematic analysis of the contents was performed, with the help of the IRaMuTeq tool. Results: Five thematic categories emerged: 1) Nurses' autonomy in the context of another professional's prescription in PHC; 2) Autonomy for prescription in programs and exams in PHC; 3) Areas of identification of professional autonomy in PHC; 4) Preventive practices in PHC and their difficulties; and 5) Limits of nurses' professional practice in PHC. Conclusion: PHC nurses in Pará have individual nursing practices with different types of autonomy, whose care they put into practice with the support of protocols and technical regulations. However, there is a need to expand and strengthen partnerships with other municipal social actors. (AU)

Objetivo: Comprender la autonomía de los enfermeros en cuanto a sus responsabilidades normativas legales en el ejercicio de las prácticas de enfermería en la Atención Básica a la Salud (APS) en Pará. Métodos: Estudio observacional, con diseño transversal cualitativo, realizado en tres municipios del estado de Pará. La recolección de datos se realizó de octubre de 2020 a enero de 2021. Los participantes fueron enfermeros de la Atención Primaria de Salud. Se realizó una entrevista, con un guión semiestructurado. Se realizó un análisis temático de dos contenidos, con la ayuda de la herramienta IRaMuTeq. Resultados: Emergieron cinco categorías temáticas: 1) Autonomía del enfermero en el contexto de la prescripción de otro profesional en la APS; 2) Autonomía para prescribir programas y exámenes en la APS; 3) Áreas de identificación de la autonomía profesional en APS; 4) Prácticas preventivas en APS y sus dificultades; y 5) Límites del ejercicio profesional de enfermería en la APS. Conclusión: Los enfermeros de la APS de Pará tienen prácticas de enfermería individuales con diferentes tipos de autonomía, cuyo cuidado está sustentado por dos protocolos y normas técnicas. Sin embargo, existe la necesidad de ampliar y fortalecer las alianzas con otros socios municipales. (AU)

Um olhar sobre a autonomia: percepções de enfermeiras sobre suas práticas na atenção primária / A look at autonomy: nurses' perceptions about their practices in primary care / Una mirada a la autonomía: percepciones de los enfermeros sobre sus prácticas en la atención primaria

Objetivo: Analisar a percepção de enfermeiras sobre a autonomia no exercício de suas práticas no contexto da atenção primária à saúde. Métodos: Estudo descritivo de abordagem qualitativa que analisou 108 entrevistas realizadas com enfermeiras(os) das quatro capitais da região sudeste do Brasil. As entrevistas, guiadas por roteiro semiestruturado, foram gravadas e transcritas. Os dados produzidos foram tratados e explorados com auxílio do software NVIVO®. Resultados: A maior parte das participantes eram mulheres, brancas, residiam na mesma cidade onde trabalham, graduaramse em instituições privadas. Foram organizadas duas categorias: repercussões da autonomia e seus desdobramentos para a resolutividade das necessidades em saúde dos usuários; e (des)conhecimento sobre a regulamentação das práticas da enfermeira: desafios para a autonomia. Conclusão: As enfermeiras compreendem a importância da autonomia para suas práticas, mas enfrentam interferências no cotidiano do trabalho, tanto por parte da gestão, da estrutura dos serviços ou da necessidade do uso de protocolos que garantam o exercício de sua atividade profissional de modo autônomo. (AU)

Objective: To analyze nurses' perception of autonomy to exercise their practices in the context of primary health care. Methods: A descriptive study with a qualitative approach that analyzed 108 interviews carried out with nurses from the four capitals of the southeastern region of Brazil. The interviews, guided by a semi-structured script, were recorded and transcribed. The data produced were processed and explored with the help of the NVIVO® software. Results: Most of the participants were women, white, lived in the same city where they work, and graduated from private institutions. Two categories were organized: repercussions of autonomy and its consequences for solving users' health needs; and (lack of) knowledge about the regulation of nursing practices: challenges for autonomy. Conclusion: Nurses understand the importance of autonomy for their practices, but they face interference in their daily work, either by management, the structure of services or the need for protocols that guarantee the exercise of their professional activity. (AU)

Objetivo: Analizar la percepción de autonomía de los enfermeros para ejercer sus prácticas en el contexto de la atención primaria de salud. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo con enfoque cualitativo que analizó 108 entrevistas realizadas con enfermeros de las cuatro capitales de la región sureste de Brasil. Las entrevistas, guiadas por un guión semiestructurado, fueron grabadas y transcritas. Los datos producidos fueron procesados y explorados con la ayuda del software NVIVO®. Resultados: La mayoría de los participantes eran mujeres, de raza blanca, vivían en la misma ciudad donde trabajan y egresaron de instituciones privadas. Se organizaron dos categorías: repercusiones de la autonomía y sus consecuencias para la solución de las necesidades de salud de los usuarios; y (falta de) conocimiento sobre la regulación de las prácticas de enfermería: desafíos para la autonomía. Conclusión: Los enfermeros comprenden la importancia de la autonomía para sus prácticas, pero enfrentan interferencias en su trabajo diario, ya sea por parte de la dirección, la estructura de los servicios o la necesidad de protocolos que garanticen el ejercicio de su actividad profesional. (AU)

Trabalho interdisciplinar e condições de trabalho de enfermeiros que atuam na atenção primária à saúde / Interdisciplinary work and working conditions of nurses working in primary health care / Trabajo interdisciplinario y condiciones de trabajo de los enfermeros que actúan en la atención primaria de salud

Objetivo: Discutir acerca do trabalho interdisciplinar na prática do enfermeiro na Atenção Primária à Saúde e as suas condições de trabalho. Métodos: Pesquisa descritiva, qualitativa, realizada com 45 profissionais Enfermeiros, que atuam na Atenção Primária à Saúde do estado da Paraíba, de dezembro de 2020 a abril de 2021. A coleta de dados foi guiada por um roteiro semiestruturado. Os dados foram interpretados com base na Análise de Conteúdo e discutidos a partir da literatura existente. Resultados: Evidenciou-se que, apesar de os enfermeiros conseguirem firmar parceria com os outros trabalhadores da unidade, usuários e gestão, e sentirem autonomia para realizar procedimentos, existem condições que dificultam suas práticas, como o pouco reconhecimento profissional, os problemas com a gestão, a falta de insumos e a sobrecarga de função. Conclusão: Os enfermeiros na Atenção Primária vêm buscando seu espaço e melhores condições de trabalho que facilitem suas práticas e favoreçam o cuidado ao usuário. Dessa forma, tais profissionais necessitam de visibilidade e reconhecimento social de suas competências técnicas. (AU)

Objective: Discuss about the interdisciplinary work in the practice of nurses in Primary Health Care and their working conditions. Methods: Descriptive, qualitative research, carried out with 45 professional nurses, who work in Primary Health Care in the state of Paraíba, from December 2020 to April 2021. Data collection was guided by a semi-structured script. Data were interpreted based on Content Analysis and discussed from the existing literature. Results: It was evidenced that, although the nurses manage to establish a partnership with the other workers of the unit, users and management, and feel autonomy to carry out procedures, there are conditions that hinder their practices, such as little professional recognition, problems with management, the lack of inputs and the function overload. Conclusion: Nurses in Primary Care have been seeking their space and better working conditions that facilitate their practices and favor user care. Thus, such professionals need visibility and social recognition of their technical skills. (AU)

Objetivo: Discutir sobre el trabajo interdisciplinario en la práctica de los enfermeros en la Atención Primaria de Salud y sus condiciones de trabajo. Métodos: Investigación descriptiva, cualitativa, realizada con 45 enfermeros profesionales, que actúan en la Atención Primaria de Salud en el estado de Paraíba, de diciembre de 2020 a abril de 2021. La recolección de datos fue guiada por un guión semiestructurado. Los datos fueron interpretados con base en el Análisis de Contenido y discutidos a partir de la literatura existente. Resultados: Se evidenció que, aunque los enfermeros logran establecer una sociedad con los demás trabajadores de la unidad, usuarios y gerencia, y sienten autonomía para realizar los procedimientos, existen condiciones que dificultan sus prácticas, como poco reconocimiento profesional, problemas con la gestión, la falta de insumos y la sobrecarga de funciones. Conclusión: Los enfermeros en Atención Básica vienen buscando su espacio y mejores condiciones de trabajo que faciliten sus prácticas y favorezcan la atención al usuario. Por lo tanto, estos profesionales necesitan visibilidad y reconocimiento social de sus habilidades técnicas. (AU)

Nurse autonomy expressed in Portuguese and Brazilian professional legislation: a documentary study (1986-2022).

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the convergence of nurse's autonomy expressed in Brazilian and Portuguese professional practice legislation. METHOD: Qualitative, social-historical documentary study on the normalization of Brazilian and Portuguese professional standards for nursing practice, materials socialized in the digital collection of the profession's organizational and disciplinary entities. Qualitative analysis from the perspective of Eliot Freidson's sociology of professions. RESULTS: Ten standards were analyzed, five from each country, which establish legislation for the nurses' professional practice. The following categories emerged: autonomy of knowledge and specific competence of the profession, in the ethical limits of the multi-professional relationship and in the disciplining of training for professional practice. CONCLUSION: The professional autonomy under analysis implies providing access to services and to multi-professionality for the availability of health to society.

Faculty Entrustment and Resident Entrustability.

Importance: As the surgical education paradigm transitions to entrustable professional activities, a better understanding of the factors associated with resident entrustability are needed. Previous work has demonstrated intraoperative faculty entrustment to be associated with resident entrustability. However, larger studies are needed to understand if this association is present across various surgical training programs. Objective: To assess intraoperative faculty-resident behaviors and determine if faculty entrustment is associated with resident entrustability across 4 university-based surgical training programs. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study was conducted at 4 university-based surgical training programs from October 2018 to May 2022. OpTrust, a validated tool designed to assess both intraoperative faculty entrustment and resident entrustability behaviors independently, was used to assess faculty-resident interactions. A total of 94 faculty and 129 residents were observed. Purposeful sampling was used to create variation in type of operation performed, case difficulty, faculty-resident pairings, faculty experience, and resident training level. Main Outcomes and Measures: Observed resident entrustability scores (scale 1-4, with 4 indicating full entrustability) were compared with reported measures (faculty level, case difficulty, resident postgraduate year [PGY], resident gender, observation month) and observed faculty entrustment scores (scale 1-4, with 4 indicating full entrustment). Path analysis was used to explore direct and indirect effects of the predictors. Associations between resident entrustability and faculty entrustment scores were assessed by pairwise Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: A total of 338 cases were observed. Cases observed were evenly distributed by faculty experience (1-5 years' experience: 67 [20.9%]; 6-14 years' experience: 186 [58%]; ≥15 years' experience: 67 [20.9%]), resident PGY (PGY 1: 28 [8%]; PGY 2: 74 [22%]; PGY 3: 64 [19%]; PGY 4: 40 [12%]; PGY 5: 97 [29%]; ≥PGY 6: 36 [11%]), and resident gender (female: 183 [54%]; male: 154 [46%]). At the univariate level, PGY (mean [SD] resident entrustability score range, 1.44 [0.46] for PGY 1 to 3.24 [0.65] for PGY 6; F = 38.92; P < .001) and faculty entrustment (2.55 [0.86]; R2 = 0.94; P < .001) were significantly associated with resident entrustablity. Path analysis demonstrated that faculty entrustment was associated with resident entrustability and that the association of PGY with resident entrustability was mediated by faculty entrustment at all 4 institutions. Conclusions and Relevance: Faculty entrustment remained associated with resident entrustability across various surgical training programs. These findings suggest that efforts to develop faculty entrustment behaviors may enhance intraoperative teaching and resident progression by promoting resident entrustability.

Scope of practice regulation in medicine: balancing patient safety, access to care and professional autonomy.

Scope of practice regulation in medicine is crucial for ensuring patient safety, access to care and professional autonomy. This paper explores the impact of scope of practice regulation on healthcare delivery, professional responsibilities and patient outcomes. It discusses the variability in standards for safe practice, the challenges in defining boundaries between medical specialties and the recent controversies in cosmetic surgery practice. The paper also examines the potential benefits and drawbacks of rigorous scope of practice regulations, including their impact on clinical innovation, flexibility and access to care. Furthermore, it delves into the implications of defensive medicine and the consequences of restrictive regulations on patient care. The author proposes implementing a proactive, national, artificial intelligence-powered, real-time outcome monitoring system to address these challenges. This system aims to cover every patient undergoing a surgical procedure and could be gradually extended to non-surgical conditions, benefiting all key stakeholders in the health system. The paper emphasises the need for a balanced approach to scope of practice regulation to avoid stifling clinical innovation and professional autonomy, while ensuring patient safety and professional accountability.

Preserving and Enhancing Resident Autonomy-Strategies for Surgical Educators.

This Viewpoint suggests measures to improve surgical resident autonomy and thereby produce capable and resilient surgeons.

Understanding and addressing varying perceptions of autonomy.

Recently, there has been a major shift in the concept of resident autonomy in the operating room. As a result, surgical residents' independence has decreased during their training years. This change has been secondary to multiple factors, including fragmented attending resident interactions, hospital demands for productivity, operating room efficiency, and the public's perception of resident participation in surgery. Multiple gender, personality, and racial biases have also influenced the autonomy of surgical residents. In this paper, we have analyzed the impact of all these factors on the current state of resident autonomy after reviewing relevant literature. We have proposed a strategy to increase resident autonomy via increased resident and faculty interactions, case planning, and encouraged recruitment of diverse vascular surgery trainees and faculty.

Perceptions and Guiding Strategies to Regulate Entrusted Autonomy of Residents in the Operating Room: A Systematic Literature Review.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a systematic literature review of intraoperative entrusted autonomy for surgical residents. Specifically, perceptions from residents and supervising surgeons, supervising behavior and influencing factors on intraoperative teaching and learning are analyzed. BACKGROUND: Increasing demands on surgical training and the need for effective development of technical skills, amplify the importance of making the most of intraoperative teaching and learning opportunities in the operating room. It is critical for residents to gain the greatest benefit from every surgical case and to achieve operative competence. METHODS: A systematic literature search identified 921 articles from 2000 to 2022 that addressed surgical education/training, intraoperative supervision/teaching, autonomy and entrustment. 40 studies with heterogeneous designs and methodologies were included. RESULTS: Four themes were established in the analysis: patient safety, learner, learning environment and supervising surgeon. The patient is identified as the primary responsibility during intraoperative teaching and learning. Supervisors continuously guard patient safety as well as the resident's learning process. Ideal intraoperative learning occurs when the resident has optimal entrusted autonomy during the procedure matching with the current surgical skills level. A safe learning environment with dedicated time for learning are prerequisites for both supervising surgeons and residents. Supervising surgeons' own preferences and confidence levels also play an important role. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic literature review identifies patient safety as the overriding principle for supervising surgeons when regulating residents' entrusted autonomy. When the supervisor's responsibility toward the patient has been met, there is room for intraoperative teaching and learning. In this process the learner, the learning environment and the supervising surgeon's own preferences all intertwine, creating a triangular responsibility. This review outlines the challenge of establishing an equilibrium in this triangle and the broad arsenal of strategies supervising surgeons use to keep it in balance.

Evaluation Tools for Assessing Autonomy of Surgical Residents in the Operating Room and Factors Influencing Access to Autonomy: A Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Surgical residents in France lack a clear pedagogical framework for achieving autonomy in the operating room. The progressive acquisition of surgical autonomy is a determining factor in the confidence of operators for their future independent practice. Currently, there is no autonomy scale commonly used in Europe. The objective of this study is to identify existing tools for quantifying the autonomy of residents and the factors that influence it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a qualitative systematic review following the recommendations of the Systematic Review Without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) guidelines. Publications were extracted from the MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and PSYCINFO databases. All publications without date restrictions up to July 2022 were identified. RESULTS: Among the 231 identified publications, 21 met the inclusion criteria. Seventeen publications used a graded autonomy assessment tool by the student and/or the teacher, while 4 used evaluations by an observing third party. We found 8 different autonomy scales, with the Zwisch Scale representing 57.1% of the cases. Factors influencing autonomy were diverse, including the work context, experience, and gender of the resident and their teacher. DISCUSSION: We found heterogeneity in the tools used to "measure" the autonomy of a resident in the operating room. The SIMPL tool or the Zwisch Scale appear to be the most frequently used tools. The relationship between autonomy, performance, confidence, and knowledge may require multidimensional tools that encompass various areas of competence, but this could make their daily application more challenging. The factors influencing autonomy are numerous; and understanding them would improve teaching in the operating room. There is a significant lack of data on surgical autonomy in France, as well as a lack of evaluation in the field of gynecology-obstetrics worldwide.

Sex influences how attendings evaluate surgical residents in the operating room.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of sex on facultys' perception of resident autonomy and performance. METHODS: Autonomy/performance/complexity evaluations performed by faculty of categorical general surgery residents (2015-2021) were analyzed. Comparisons of scores by faculty and resident sex were performed. RESULTS: A total of 10967 paper/electronic evaluations were collected. Female attendings rated female residents significantly lower in autonomy when compared to males (2.75 vs 2.91, p â€‹= â€‹0.0037). There was no significant difference in autonomy ratings for male versus female residents when evaluated by a male attending (2.93 vs 2.96, p â€‹= â€‹0.054) but male attendings did rate female residents significantly lower in autonomy at the highest complexities (2.37 vs 2.50, p â€‹= â€‹0.012). CONCLUSION: The data suggests a unique interaction between attending and resident sex. A periodic evaluation of evaluations within one's program may provide invaluable implicit bias insight and should be considered.