A Study of the General Surgery Curriculum

2004

Specific Learning (Behavioral) Objectives

After studying the latest General Surgery Curriculum being recommended by the Philippine Society of General Surgeons and Department of Surgery of Ospital ng Maynila, the general surgery resident to be must be able to:

1. Answer the following questions:

1.1 What is a curriculum?

Ans: A curriculum is an educational document  which contains the general program of studies for the learners or students. 

1.2 What are the elements of a curriculum?

Ans:

            Learning objectives

            Content

            Learning activities and resources

            Evaluation

1.3 What is a general surgery curriculum?

Ans:  A general surgery curriculum is an educational document that contains the general program of studies for general surgeons to be.

1.4 What are the elements of a general surgery curriculum?

Ans:

            Learning objectives

            Content

            Learning activities and resources

            Evaluation

1.5 What is an instructional design?

Ans: An instructional design is an educational document which by common usage may mean the same thing as a curriculum.  However, to make a difference between a curriculum and an instructional design, if a curriculum spells out the general program of studies, an instructional design lays out the strategies and procedures on how the program of studies is to be achieved.   In other words, curriculum is more general and instructional design is more specific.  Furthermore, instructional design is cascaded from the curriculum.

1.6 What are the elements of an instructional design?

Ans:

            Learning objectives

            Content

            Learning activities and resources

            Evaluation

1.7 What is a lesson plan?

Ans: A lesson plan is an educational document which strictly speaking can be synonymous with curriculum and instructional design in the sense that they are all written educational plans.  However, to make a difference among curriculum, instructional design, and lesson plan, lesson plan is the most specific or smallest educational plan, usually on a learning session of an hour or two; curriculum is the most general or most encompassing or biggest educational plan; whereas instructional design is between curriculum and lesson plan in terms of scope.  Just as an instructional design is cascaded from the curriculum, a lesson plan is cascaded from an instructional design.

1.8 What are the elements of a lesson plan?

Ans:

            Learning objectives

            Content

            Learning activities and resources

            Evaluation

2. Make a table illustrating the similarities and differences among curriculum, instructional design, and lesson plan.

3. Enumerate the five (5) competencies expected of a wholistic general surgeon to enable him/her to effectively contribute to health development in the community.

Ans:    Surgeon-clinician-operator

            Surgeon-community problem solver

            Surgeon-educator-learner

            Surgeon-researcher

            Surgeon-administrator

4. Enumerate the three (3) conventional domains considered in formulating learning objectives for learners/students/residents.

Ans:    Cognitive domains

            Psychomotor domains

            Attitude domains

5. Enumerate at least five (5) general psychomotor skills expected of a wholistic general surgeon.

Ans:    Surgeon-clinician-operator

                        Technical skills in doing physical examination

                        Technical skills in operating and assisting operations

                        Technical skills in medical recording

                        Technical skills in medical presentation

            Communication skills

                        Communication skills (with patients)

                        Communication skills (with colleagues)

            Interpersonal skills

                        Interpersonal skills (with patients)

                        Interpersonal skills (with colleagues)         

6. Enumerate at least five (5) general desirable habits or attitude expected of a wholistic general surgeon.

Ans:    Self-directed learning habit

            Ethical and moral values

            Empathy

            Humility (accepts limitations)

            Honesty         

7. Define the scope of the specialty known as general surgery in the Philippines as defined by the Philippine Society of General Surgeons.

7.1 Scope in terms of region/system/organ/tissue as “must possess”

Ans:    Head and Neck

            Breast

            Abdomen and Hernia

            Skin and Soft Tissue

7.2 Scope in terms of types of operative skills as “must possess”

Ans:    Diagnostic operative skills

                        Biopsy

                        Endoscopy

            Therapeutic operative skills

For diseases that fall within the scope of the general surgery in terms of region (head and neck; breast; abdomen and hernia; skin and soft  tissue)

7.3 Scope in terms of types of diseases as “must possess competencies to manage”

Ans:    Trauma

            Tumor

            Infections

            Deformity

7.4 Scope in terms of “nice to possess, to have, or to be exposed to”

Ans: Other surgical subspecialties –

            Pediatric Surgery

            Orthopedic Surgery

            Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

            Urology

            Neurosurgery

            Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

            Gynecologic Surgery

8. Make a table illustrating the use of appropriate teaching-learning activities (at least 2 each) for the different conventional domains of learning objectives(cognitive or knowledge domain; psychomotor domain; and attitude domain).

9. Make a table illustrating the appropriate use of teaching-learning activities for the following psychomotor skills:

9.1             Problem-solving and decision-making skills in patient management

9.2             Operative skills

9.3             Preop and postop management skills

9.4             Medical recording skills

9.5             Medical presentation skills

9.6             Interpersonal skills

9.7             Team-work skills

9.8             Communication skills

9.9             Research skills

9.10                     Administrative skills

9.11                     Surgical educator skills

9.12                     Public health educator skills

9.13                     Self-directed learning skills

10. Enumerate at least five (5) essential resource materials that can be used in learning surgical patient management process.

Ans:    Reading materials on the topic

                        Textbooks

                        Journals

                        Self-instructional programs

            Observation/analysis of patient management processes of consultants

Observation/analysis of patient management processes of colleagues /

peers

            Simulated patient problem-solving and decision-making

            Actual patient problem-solving and decision-making

11. Make a table illustrating the use of appropriate evaluation tools (at least 2 each) for the different conventional domains of learning objectives (cognitive or knowledge domain; psychomotor domain; and attitude domain).

12. Make a table illustrating the appropriate use of evaluation tools for the following psychomotor skills:

12.1                     Problem-solving and decision-making skills in patient management

12.2                     Operative skills

12.3                     Preop and postop management skills

12.4                     Medical recording skills

12.5                     Medical presentation skills

12.6                     Interpersonal skills

12.7                     Team-work skills

12.8                     Communication skills

12.9                     Research skills

12.10                Administrative skills

12.11                Surgical educator skills

12.12                Public health educator skills

12.13                Self-directed learning skills

13. Compare the similarities and differences (advantages and disadvantages) between norm- and criterion-referenced standards used in evaluating learners/students/residents for assessing accomplishment or non-accomplishment of competencies / passing or failing a learner / promotion or nonpromotion of a resident.

Ans: Norm-referenced and criterion-referenced systems are standards in interpreting scores of students in an evaluation tool.

Norm-referenced system uses relative standards whereas criterion-referenced system uses absolute standards.

Criterion-referenced system uses objectives as basis of interpretation.

In norm-referenced system, the passing grade is decided after the exam whereas in criterion-referenced system, the passing grade is decided before the exam.

Criterion-referenced system is preferred in evaluating physicians and surgeons because of the sensitivity of the responsibilities and competencies expected by the community.

It is a good indicator of level of mastery attained by students.

14. Based on Philippine Society of General Surgeons’ recommendation, make a table illustrating the parameters and criteria or standards to be used in passing or failing (promotion or nonpromotion) of surgical residents.

15. Based on OMMC Department of Surgery policies, make a table illustrating the parameters and criteria or standards to be used in passing or failing (promotion or nonpromotion) of surgical residents.

General Surgery Residents’ Annual Performance Report

Legend:

P – Pass        F – Fail                       Inc – Incomplete                    NA – Not Applicable

Guides:

Governance – Performance as a chief resident and other assigned administrative functions

Service – Number of complaints (external and internal); morbidity and mortality

Training – Knowledge (Written and oral exams)

Training – Skills and Attitude (PCS-prescribed Clinical-Attitude-Technical skills rating scale; oral-practical exams)

Research – Research paper requirements  and quality

NOTE: Resident must have a passing grade in all parameters to be eligible for promotion or graduation.

16. Construct a table illustrating methods on how to evaluate a general surgery curriculum and its implementation.

17. Enumerate the elements that will be evaluated by external accrediting agencies in a general surgery program.

Ans:    The curriculum and its implementation

            Learning resources

18. Using a table, describe the recommendation of the Philippine Society of  General Surgeons as regards organization of rotation of residents vis-à-vis level of training.

For 5-year Program

For 4-year Program