Trust improves during one-day resident operating room management course preceded by directed study of required statistical content

Abstract

Study objective: Evaluate feasibility of 1-day OR management course for anesthesiology residents and determine if course content increases trust in OR management science. Design: Pre- and post-course survey evaluations. Setting: OR management course. Patients: University of Florida anesthesiology residents. Interventions: OR management course adapted for anesthesiology residents. Measurements: Course preparation required statistical review, learning scientific vocabulary, and reading 2 peer-reviewed articles. Pre-course, participants were surveyed on course preparation and rated their confidence on statistical application to management sciences. Pre-and post-course, participants completed a 9-item survey assessing trust in course content with 3 different facets (reliability, quality and usefulness). Main results: 17 residents participated. Pre-course trust survey scores (total of 3 scales) and preparation items were not significantly correlated (all p ≥ 0.30). Confidence scales were correlated with each other (τ b = 0.67, p < 0.001). Participants had moderate ratings for confidence in understanding and using statistics (median = 5, IQR = 3) and applying management science (median = 4, IQR = 2.25). Neither confidence in understanding and using statistics nor applying management sciences was significantly correlated with pre-course trust survey scores (τ b = 0.17, p = 0.375 and τ b = 0.02, p = 0.899, respectively). Overall trust increased from pre- to post-course (mean change = 0.63, SD = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.23–1.04, t = 3.34, df = 16, p = 0.005). Controlling for each participant's pre-course trust, both confidence in statistics (β = −0.24, SE = 0.10, p = 0.033) and management sciences (β = −0.27, SE = 0.10, p = 0.018) significantly effects change in trust. For both scales, participants with lower initial confidence showed the greatest increases in trust. Conclusions: The 1-day course increases resident trust in OR course management content. Participants with less pre-course confidence in statistical application and decision making had greater increases in trust.