Development of an interview practice course for improving overall confidence in specialty training national selection in vascular and general surgery

Objectives
To evaluate the effectiveness of a training course to improve surgical trainees' confidence in specialty training national selection (STNS) for higher surgical training in surgery. It was also the aim to identify weak areas in the current two-year core surgical training programme in the United Kingdom.

Methods
A prospective observational study was conducted. Delegates were asked to complete evaluation forms to track their perceived confidence levels of success in STNS at different timeframes, measured by a visual analogue scale.

Setting
The 2-day interview preparation course was designed with a maximum delegate number of ten per course in Surgical Skills Centre, Ninewells Hospital, University of Dundee, UK.

Participants
Twenty-seven delegates provided feedback of their perceived confidence levels of success at STNS higher surgical training in general and vascular surgery.

Results
Delegate self-reported confidence increased significantly for all domains except Patient Communication (6.12 ± (1.75) vs 7.10 ± (1.69), P = 0.063). A lower confidence was reported by UK graduates and first-time applicants in the technical and teaching domain (6.03 ± 2.04 vs 7.24 ± 1.92, p = 0.007). 23 (85 %) of the participants were successful in the STNS post course.

Conclusions
Peer-delivered teaching, practice and feedback as a structured interview practice course can significantly improve applicants' overall confidence levels in preparing for STNS and a high success rate at STNS. Patient communication skills training and education should be enhanced in the training programme. A lower confidence was reported by UK graduates and first-time applicants in the technical and teaching domain.