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Do student and faculty expectations differ during the third-year surgical clerkship?

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Global Surgical Education - Journal of the Association for Surgical Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The third-year general surgical clerkship offers educators a chance to increase medical student engagement through experience-based learning and supported participation in practice, leading to both greater student education and interest in surgery as a career. Aligned expectations are essential for optimal student engagement with faculty. The aim of our study was to examine this process by comparing expectations for the general surgery third-year clerkship from the perspectives of residents, faculty, and third-year medical students, with an emphasis on specific skills and experiences deemed important for maximum student engagement.

Methods

An online survey was created for distribution to all third-year general surgery clerkship sites affiliated with our medical school. The 36-question form included demographic, multiple choice, Likert, rank order, and free response data. ANOVA and Chi-square analysis were used to assess differences between groups. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

13 faculty surgeons, 11 residents, and 94 medical students participated in the survey. Respondents reported differences in expectations for student allocation of time while on the rotation, skills acquired, aspects of the clerkship with the greatest educational value, means of assessment, and quality and amount of feedback received. Perceived level of student autonomy/responsibility while on the clerkship was rated as below average for both students and faculty.

Conclusions

Conflicting expectations and perceptions of student roles exist within the general surgery clerkship at our institution. Explicit clarification and understanding of these expectations are necessary for creating an environment of supported participation for maximizing faculty engagement and student learning.

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Data availability

The authors declare that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary information files.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Tufts Medical School for assistance with survey distribution.

Funding

We did not receive funding for this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA, 01805, USA

    Alexis Graham-Stephenson & Dmitry Nepomnayshy

  2. Department of Professional Development and Simulation, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA, 01805, USA

    Alexis Graham-Stephenson, Darlene Bourgeois, Lelan Sillin III & Dmitry Nepomnayshy

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  1. Alexis Graham-Stephenson
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  2. Darlene Bourgeois
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  3. Lelan Sillin III
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Correspondence to Alexis Graham-Stephenson.

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Graham-Stephenson, A., Bourgeois, D., Sillin, L. et al. Do student and faculty expectations differ during the third-year surgical clerkship?. Global Surg Educ 2, 108 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44186-023-00179-5

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