A Novel Neurosurgery Referral Course: Feasibility, Validation, and Inferences for Patient Care.
OBJECTIVE
The speciality of neurosurgery is under-represented in the majority of medical school curriculums, and those rotating within this specialty tend to be those with career aspirations within this field. Consequently, few emergency medicine trainees are exposed to this specialty. The aim of this educational project was to develop and validate a neurosurgery referral course for the target audience of emergency medics.


DESIGN
Development of a single day neurosurgery referral course, developed with accreditation from the Royal College of Surgeons England. The curriculum covered commonly referred pathologies. Content validity was assessed using a 5-point Likert Scale. Median Likert scores were compared to "indifferent" (3) (indifferent = 3 in this study Likert scale) using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. Construct validity was assessed using a standardized pre and postcourse 10-single best answer exam and results compared using paired t tests.


SETTING
A pilot "Neurosurgery for Emergency Medics" referral course, hosted at a single UK based neurosurgery unit.


PARTICIPANTS
A cohort of 19 delegates, working in emergency departments various regions within the UK.


RESULTS
The subjective feedback showed significantly higher than the expected median Likert scale satisfaction scores (p = 0.0001). Construct validity was confirmed, with significant improvement in proportion of students getting the answers in the single best answer exam after the days training course (p = 0.017).


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrate feasibility, content, and construct validity and conclude that this pilot "Neurosurgery for Emergency Medics" course was beneficial. Integration of this 1-day course into local doctor's induction programmes for emergency medicine and neurosurgery may advance both local and national standards for referrals and consults alike, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care.
['Pradini-Santos|Laura|L|', 'Craven|Claudia L|CL|', 'Usher|Inga|I|', 'Mullins|Sophie|S|', "D'Antona|Linda|L|", 'Al-Ahmad|Selma|S|', 'Abuhusain|Hazem|H|', 'Sayal|Parag P|PP|']
D003479:Curriculum D004739:England D005240:Feasibility Studies D006801:Humans D009493:Neurosurgery D005791:Patient Care D012017:Referral and Consultation
referrals validation patient care emergency department medical education neurosurgery training