key: cord-0756160-ne0bxyl0
authors: Beamish, Andrew J.
title: A commentary on: “Consensus recommendations on balancing educational opportunities and service provision in surgical training: Association of Surgeons in Training Delphi qualitative study”
date: 2020-05-08
journal: Int J Surg
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.05.004
sha: 591bb177e6a92a75b4012960b54c29ea76276ae7
doc_id: 756160
cord_uid: ne0bxyl0

nan

ASiT's consensus exercise demonstrated firm agreement that training activities should have potential to impact on the trainee's learning curve, should be tailored to their ability, and should include activities involving teaching more junior colleagues. Thirteen recommendations were made, most of which are broad enough to allow for a tailored approach, rather than being prescriptively detailed.

It is encouraging that the exercise covered potential consequences of imbalance in training vs. service, particularly the mental health aspects of a demanding training programme, which invariably involves substantial stressinducing activities and responsibilities, geographical upheaval at regular intervals, usually moving workplace or even city at 6-to 12-monthly intervals, and all spanning a period in life when starting and raising a family is most likely to occur.

Every surgeon's experience in training is unique. The duty of professional bodies delivering surgical training is to ensure that, despite this variation, every trainee has the opportunity to develop competence in all aspects of their curriculum, without compromising their own health and wellbeing. Crucially, the overarching objective must be to ensure the safety of every patient treated by the independently practicing professionals exiting such programmes.

Enabling a balance between service and training is essential to this, and ASiT's recommendations and framework for programme assessment represent useful tools to achieve this.

on behalf of the Council of the Association of Surgeons in Training. Use of the eLogbook in surgical training in the United Kingdom: A nationwide survey and consensus recommendations from the Association of Surgeons in Training

on behalf of the Council of the Association of Surgeons in Training. Real-world use of workplace based assessments in surgical training: a UK nationwide exploration of trainee perspectives and consensus recommendations from the Association of Surgeons in Training

Consensus recommendations on balancing educational opportunities and service provision in surgical training: Association of Surgeons in Training Delphi qualitative study

Invited Commentary, internally reviewed.

No conflict of interest to declare.