Gender Stigma Consciousness and Surgical Training

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Previous investigations have focused on challenges that surgeons face once they have entered into practice. We have yet to explore difficulties in the training environment, and whether these have an effect on professional development. In this study, we investigate how certain environmental factors can affect skill acquisition for the resident surgeon. Our trial tests whether psychosocial constructs affect task-performance. This study is a multi-center endeavor with the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the University of Washington, and UPMC. Over an 12 month period, residents will be asked to complete surveys and a laparoscopic skills assessment, which will be administered after residents are randomized to an intervention or control arm. The intervention arm will be asked to read an article that is meant to trigger psychosocial constructs that we hypothesize will affect skill performance. The control arm will receive a neutral article prior to completing the laparoscopic skills assessment.

Official Title
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The Effect of Gender-stigma Consciousness on General Surgery Trainees' Experiences and Skill Performance.

Conditions
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Gender Issues

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: An article meant to trigger certain psychosocial behaviors
* Behavioral: a neutral article


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Categorical General surgery residents who completed undergraduate medical education in the United States Exclusion Criteria: Residents who have completed graduate medical education training in a subspecialty prior to their general surgery residency.
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention<br>An article meant to trigger certain psychosocial behaviors is administered to the intervention arm prior to laparoscopic skills assessment. | Behavioral: An article meant to trigger certain psychosocial behaviors<br>* An article meant to trigger certain psychosocial behaviors is administered to the intervention arm prior to laparoscopic skills assessment.<br>|
| Sham Comparator: Control<br>The control arm will receive a neutral article prior to completing the assessment. | Behavioral: a neutral article<br>* The control arm will receive a neutral article prior to completing the assessment.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score on laparoscopic skills assessment | Score (continuous outcome) based on verified fundamentals of laparoscopic skills assessment grading rubric. | 12 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in psychosocial constructs | Changes in Likert scale ratings of psychosocial constructs as assessed by survey with previously published verified sub scales. | 12 months |