Development of universal academic competencies for the global surgeon: a modified Delphi consensus study
Fecha
2022-08-12Resumen
Background
Global surgery is a new, rapidly growing field within global health that aims to improve access to safe surgical care worldwide. However, no standardized universally accepted curriculum exists to ensure that trainees gain the necessary competencies to engage in equitable and sustainable global surgery work. A consensus-based approach, with input from experts in both high-income countries (HICs) and low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) is needed to develop curricula on global surgery for trainees worldwide. The aim of this project was to develop consensus on the fundamental competencies in academic global surgery to enable curriculum development and formalization of the field.
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Methods
A multidisciplinary taskforce of experts across different geographic regions was convened by a logistics team from the American College of Surgeons to gather a list of experts in global surgery and education for participation in the survey. A list of competencies and objectives was created based on published literature and existing competencies in medical education and global health. Two rounds of surveys were conducted with Likert and open text responses that were synthesized by the logistics and taskforce members. A threshold of 80% consensus was used to determine whether a competency or objective could be included.
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Results
A total of 64 individuals from 22 countries took part in building this universal framework; 59 respondents participated in both rounds, of whom 37 (63%) were from LMICs. Consensus was reached on 9 core competencies and 31 subcompetency objectives that were further divided into novice and advanced curricula. The greatest consensus pertained to competency in the global burden of surgical disease and ethics and professionalism in global surgery.
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Conclusion
This Delphi process, with input from HIC and LMIC experts, produced 9 competencies to guide global surgery curricula development and provide an equitable approach to defining the field of academic global surgery.
Abstract
Background
Global surgery is a new, rapidly growing field within global health that aims to improve access to safe surgical care worldwide. However, no standardized universally accepted curriculum exists to ensure that trainees gain the necessary competencies to engage in equitable and sustainable global surgery work. A consensus-based approach, with input from experts in both high-income countries (HICs) and low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) is needed to develop curricula on global surgery for trainees worldwide. The aim of this project was to develop consensus on the fundamental competencies in academic global surgery to enable curriculum development and formalization of the field.
Go to:
Methods
A multidisciplinary taskforce of experts across different geographic regions was convened by a logistics team from the American College of Surgeons to gather a list of experts in global surgery and education for participation in the survey. A list of competencies and objectives was created based on published literature and existing competencies in medical education and global health. Two rounds of surveys were conducted with Likert and open text responses that were synthesized by the logistics and taskforce members. A threshold of 80% consensus was used to determine whether a competency or objective could be included.
Go to:
Results
A total of 64 individuals from 22 countries took part in building this universal framework; 59 respondents participated in both rounds, of whom 37 (63%) were from LMICs. Consensus was reached on 9 core competencies and 31 subcompetency objectives that were further divided into novice and advanced curricula. The greatest consensus pertained to competency in the global burden of surgical disease and ethics and professionalism in global surgery.
Go to:
Conclusion
This Delphi process, with input from HIC and LMIC experts, produced 9 competencies to guide global surgery curricula development and provide an equitable approach to defining the field of academic global surgery.