An Appreciative Inquiry Approach to the Core Competencies: Taking it From Theory to Practice

摘要

Objective<br/>To operationalize the surgical core competencies by using a qualitative inquiry strategy to explore how surgical competence is behaviorally demonstrated by faculty.<br/>Design<br/>Categorical general and vascular surgery residents completed a survey soliciting opinions regarding which faculty were deemed most representative of each core competency. The surveys served as a theoretical sample, as surgeons selected were then interviewed, and interviews transcribed. A qualitative research approach using grounded theory coding methods was used for transcript analysis. Iterative coding was performed, and emergent themes were then extracted from transcript analysis.<br/>Setting<br/>Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery in Springfield, IL, a tertiary academic center.<br/>Participants<br/>Fourteen of 19 residents completed the survey (74% response rate). Two surgeons were selected for each competency. A total of 7 interviews were performed, with 4 surgeons being chosen for 2 competencies.<br/>Results<br/>Emergent themes revealed that competent surgeons shared qualities that drove their development and execution of each competency. These qualities included self-awareness, a selfless character, responsibility and ownership, context awareness, reliance on relationships and community, and a pattern of habit formation and discipline. Additionally, the competencies were noted to be pursued in an interrelated and interdependent fashion.<br/>Conclusions<br/>Surgeons deemed competent in any core domain shared common qualities. Further study exploring how each of these is identified, developed and taught is warranted. The competencies are an inter-related matrix whose development and execution correlates with foundational personal disciplines.

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