Resident perspectives on a vascular surgery operative steps resource with attending preferences

Objective The field of vascular surgery is rapidly expanding, requiring residents to acquire more knowledge and skill during a finite training period. These challenges highlight the need for resources that ensure trainees maximize learning from every case. The vascular operative steps resource permits efficient and contextual case preparation by condensing material and including institutional and attending specific practices. The objective of this study was to evaluate how trainees used a vascular operative steps resource in their case preparation and to identify its perceived benefits to develop strategies for optimal resource implementation. Methods Surgery residents at an urban, tertiary medical center who had previously rotated on vascular surgery and were provided the operative steps resource were recruited for participation in a virtual semistructured interview. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and deidentified by a research assistant. Transcripts were inductively analyzed using a process of conventional content analysis by a multidisciplinary research team to identify prominent themes and develop a model for how the resource supports resident operative preparation. Results A total of 10 residents participated in the interview who were on average 31.0 ± 1.2 years old, and 50% self-identified as women. We identified five themes related to operative preparation and the operative steps resource: (1) residents rely on a diverse set of materials, often from unvetted digital sources, (2) preparation is associated with perceived operative autonomy, (3) the concise stepwise format of the resource facilitated mental rehearsal, (4) appropriate resource oversight maximizes effectiveness and inclusivity, (5) the resource has broader application beyond resident use for operative preparation. Notable benefits of the resource content included local knowledge, attending-specific preferences, and details surrounding instrument selection. Conclusions Residents consistently used the operative steps resource and reported it was a valuable tool for case preparation, citing its organized structure, inclusion of preoperative planning, instrument and suture selection, and attending-specific variations. These results can inform the creation of a similar operative steps resource across other surgical specialties and institutions to augment surgical resident operative preparation and, subsequently, operative involvement and technical skill development.