[Digitalization in surgical training : Status quo, opportunities and challenges].

BACKGROUND

The digital transformation of medicine is a key policy issue that also affects continuing surgical training. Previous efforts to implement digitalization were perceived as insufficient by doctors. There is still considerable potential to improve continuing surgical training by targeting the opportunities offered by digitalization.

RESEARCH QUESTION

How do physicians in (special) surgical training assess the availability, implementation, opportunities and barriers of digitalization in continuing surgical training in Germany?

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Physicians in (special) surgical training were surveyed via a web-based questionnaire on the status of digitalization in continuing surgical training. A total of 313 responses were analyzed.

RESULTS

The majority of physicians see great potential in digitalization for improving continuing training. Digital training programs, apps and online databases are used regularly; however, only a quarter of respondents use a digital training logbook. The majority of respondents also see opportunities to improve the work-life balance through the implementation of digitalization.

CONCLUSION

Digital tools as well as the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), are seen as potentially valuable for improving continuing education but are scarcely used. The inadequate implementation of digital training logbooks highlights the need for optimized integration of these digital solutions. A comprehensive digital transformation in surgery is necessary to sustainably improve the efficiency of clinical routine practice and the quality of continuing education. Urgent action is therefore needed both in terms of expanding the digital infrastructure in hospitals and integrating theoretical and practical digital tools into continuing education.