Objective Assessment of Technical Skills in Cardiothoracic Surgery

• Feasibility of Video Recordings of Cardiothoracic Surgery (CTS) Procedures [ Time Frame: 1 month for rating ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Assessing 5 recorded procedures with qualified raters using two rating scales; a checklist developed using a consensus building project and a global rating scale (GRS) adapted from an established surgical assessment tool. The GRS uses a 5 point scale and behavioral anchors are provided for 1, 3, and 5 (a score of 1 equals a novice, 3 equals a competent surgeon, and 5 equals an expert). Raters have 1 month to view videos.
  
  

If you agree to take part in this study, you will receive a digital video disc (DVD) containing multiple videos of different surgeons or surgical trainees performing CAB procedures. You will be trained by the Principal Investigator (PI) on how you should rate the performance of each surgeon/trainee. You will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups:

• If you are in the Conventional Rater (CR) Group, you will receive conventional training from the PI about how to rate the videos.
• If you are in the Video Rater (VR) Group, you will receive conventional training from the PI about how to rate the videos. You will also receive a video rater training manual.

You will receive up to 38 different recorded procedures while you are on study. Each procedure should last about 15 minutes. You will record the identification code that appears at the beginning of each video, and the date and time that you viewed each video. You will watch each video and then rate the performance of the surgeon/trainee using a checklist and a Global Rating Scale. These rating documents will be given to you on a thumb drive that you will either fill out on your computer or print out and fill in by hand. You will be given more detailed instructions on how to fill out the checklist and rating scales by the Principal Investigator (PI).

Your identity will be coded and blinded throughout the study. No identifying information will be directly linked to your responses. Only the video identification numbers and your code number will be used to identify the assessment data. The code key will be stored in a separate computer or thumb drive.

Length of Study:

You will have 1 month to view and rate all videos. You will be contacted 1 time each week by the PI to monitor your progress.

After you have watched and rated all the videos, you will return the videos, your responses (either on the thumb drive or on printed hard-copies), and the video rater training manual (if you are in the VR group) in a pre-paid mailer.

Up to 20 raters may take part in this study.