Preoperative Briefings and Postoperative Debriefings to Increase Resident Operative Autonomy and Performance

Objective: To implement the use of standardized preoperative briefings and postoperative debriefings for surgical cases involving residents in an effort to improve resident autonomy and skill acquisition. Design: Prospective longitudinal study. Setting: Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Participants: Resident and attending physicians. Results: Joint Huddles for Improving Resident Education (JHFIRE) tool was created and successfully implemented by 19 residents and 17 faculty members. Over the course of three data collection periods spanning an academic year, overall scores improved though not statistically significantly in the metrics of Zwisch autonomy, Resident Performance, and Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) scores. Female residents were scored significantly higher by attendings than their male counterparts in the assessment of baseline Resident Performance. Conclusions: (1) JHFIRE tool implemented a standardized preoperative briefing and postoperative debriefing to improve communication and resident skill acquisition; (2) The tool was accepted and utilized throughout an academic year; (3) Zwisch, Resident Performance, and OSATS scores improved though not significantly.