Structured Remote Surgical Coaching to Improve Operative Performance in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: a Multicenter Randomized Control Trial

Surgical coaching, defined as a constructive relationship that provides objective feedback to individuals about a broad range of factors influencing operative performance, is a key strategy for integrating adult learning theory into the traditionally didactic arena of surgical education. It is gaining momentum as an area of potential growth and innovation, and may become a more meaningful method of ongoing professional development for practicing surgeons. Effective coaching interactions encourage discussion, provide feedback, affirm positive beliefs and challenge pre-existing assumptions. The effectiveness and uptake of coaching interventions in surgery can be influenced by the identity of the coach, and cultural or individual surgeon attitudes.

Surgical coaching has been linked to improvements in technical and procedural skills in both simulated and clinical environments. In 2015, a systematic review of surgical coaching showed a positive impact of surgical coaching interventions on learners' perceptions and attitudes, their technical and nontechnical skills, and their performance measures.

The investigators propose to conduct a multicenter randomized controlled trial of structured remote surgical coaching (SRSC) versus conventional surgical training for laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed by surgery residents at three institutions, in Canada and Australia, to not only provide additional evidence in support of validity and generalizability of a structured surgical coaching intervention for surgery trainees, but also to demonstrate improvement in accuracy of self-assessment of operative performance and the feasibility of remote coaching.