Exploring the Concept of Confidence in Surgical Residency Training

• Author / Creator

  Lees, Mackenzie

• Most existing work on confidence is based on surveys and questionnaire data, and approaches the topic from the perspective of a ‘confidence crisis’. Few studies have considered the phenomenon of confidence during surgical training in depth. The objectives of this study are to explore what confidence means within surgical education and to explore factors that might affect it.

  Qualitative research methods were used to explore the experiences of confidence during surgical residency training. Seven residents from the University of Alberta volunteered to participate in individual semi-structured interviews. Each participant received a post-interview research brief that included a summary of his/her interview responses. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed using inductive strategies to determine common categories, topics, and recurring themes.

  Five major themes arose to describe residents’ understanding of confidence. First, participants described confidence as an internal, subjective feeling of being able to accomplish a task/set of tasks expected of oneself. Second, residents described confidence as a feeling of faith and belief in one’s self. Third, confidence was described as being context- and task-specific and thus varied throughout residency. Fourth, residents associated confidence with overcoming challenges. Finally, participants stated that confidence constantly fluctuated based on both internal and external factors. Internal factors had a lesser influence on confidence and included personal experiences, self-perception, personal expectations, and individual skill development. External factors played a more significant role and included patient issues, feedback, relationships with staff surgeons, and working within a supportive environment.

  Confidence is associated with perception, competence, and the progression of skills and knowledge; therefore this is a highly important concept during surgical training. A resident’s confidence level is continuously challenged during their training and subject to both high and low points. Understanding this complex concept is important, as it directly impacts how residents progress and improve throughout residency and ultimately become confident, independent surgeons. Further research needs to be done on factors that affect the development of confidence during surgical training, and on the interplay between surgical confidence and competence. The results from this study have the power to implement changes in practice while also opening up new possibilities for future research studies.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Surgery
  • Residency
  • Confidence

• Graduation date

  Fall 2018

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3BV7BB58

• License

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