I’m a current PhD candidate and general surgery trainee. As part of my PhD (supervised by Saxon Connor and Tim Eglinton), exploring operative process in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, we are investigating differences in operative difficulty grading across different levels of clinical experience. I would appreciate it if you could spend 5-10 minutes to complete the grading modules in the links provided. A further explanation of the study is provided below. Ethical has been approved through the HDEC (20/CEN/70).
Operative technical difficulty in laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be quantified by grading the visual appearances of the gallbladder. Visual grading scores have been shown to predict both post-operative outcomes and intraoperative process. While grading is consistent across senior surgeons the degree of variability across trainees, non-trainees and non-clinical graders has not been assessed. The following study aims to quantify the inter-observer reliability of operative grading in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
The links below consist of a practice module and a test module. In the training module you will find a 4-minute video that describes gallbladder grading and provides some examples, this is followed by 20 images of gallbladders for you to practice grading with answers provided. You can grade and submit these as many times as you like. Once you feel comfortable with the practice module, please proceed to the test module. This consists of 40 images of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for you to grade, please only complete this module once.
If you are happy to take part, we would also like to assess intra-observer reliability. To do so you can optionally provide your email in the “Grading Test” form below. This will only be used to send a further link two weeks from now, it will not be shared and will be deleted at the completion of the study.
Impact of career choice on fertility in female doctors
My name is Alexandria Gibson, and I am an Orthopaedic Trainee at Waikato Hospital. We are hoping to reach out to all specialties, both surgical and non surgical to investigate the impact of career choice on fertility in female doctors, and were hoping that you could include the following invitation in an online newletter or email. The survey, as well as the below invitation to complete the survey has been approved by the University of Auckland as part of the Auckland Health Research Ethics Committee.
‘Dr Alexandria Gibson, an Orthopaedic Trainee at Waikato Hospital is currently undertaking a research project investigating the impact of medical career choice on fertility. This is under the supervision of Dr Jillian Lee (MBChB, FRACS) and Associate Professor Joseph Baker (MBChB, FRCS Irel, CHST Trauma and Oth). Part of this project involves a short survey of the fertility, pregnancy and post-natal experiences of female doctors. The survey is anonymous, and intends to highlight the issues that come with having and raising a family whilst working as a doctor. A link to the survey can be found below.
For any questions, please contact alexandria.gibson@waikatodhb.health.nz. Approved by the Auckland Health Research Ethics Committee for three years. Reference number [AH24523]
