A comparison of mastoidectomy learning curves in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residents

OBJECTIVES:/Hypothesis: The purpose of our study was to explore factors that might influence the trajectories in residents' learning curves of surgical performance in the mastoidectomy procedure. Study Design: Retrospective-cohort study. Methods: Mastoidectomy evaluations based on a previously validated taskbased checklist were obtained for nine residents from post-graduate year (PGY) 2 and 3 over a period of 3 years. Average scores were measured over time and learning curves were generated using scatter plots and non-parametric smoothing techniques. A 5-item survey was conducted to explore various residents' related characteristics such as interest. Results: Residents with interest level of 4 in Otology demonstrated a better overall average scores and learning curves compared to those with an interest level of 2. After adjusting for time of assessment, otology level, interest in otology, and time spent in the temporal bone laboratory, on average, those residents who attended an extra session in the laboratory had 0.04 higher average score (95% CI from 0.01 to 0.07, p-value=0.004). Conclusions: Residents with higher level of interest in the Otology specialty demonstrated better average scores compared to other residents. Moreover, residents with more attendances at temporal bone course sessions had better average assessment scores.