"We Don't Want You to Be Dismissed": Perspectives of Remediation From Surgical Education and Training Managers

Abstract

Background: While education and training managers are key personnel within surgical training programs regarding management of trainee performance including remediation, there is a lack of research concerning their perspectives. For improvements in remediation at a systems level, insight to their perspectives and experiences is essential.

Methods: This qualitative study explored the perspectives of 12 education and training managers of surgical societies/associations/colleges in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Purposive and snowball sampling was utilized for data collection in semi-structured interviews. Following an interpretivist approach, transcribed interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: Four themes and 10 subthemes were identified: "a guiding role"; remediation is a "well-oiled machine"; remediation is "not punitive"; and room for improvement.

Conclusion: Educational managers hold a pivotal role in guiding trainees and supervisors throughout the remediation process. From their perspective, remediation is considered well managed, with nearly all trainees successfully completing remediation. Although they recommend further resources and additional support for supervisors, their focus on improvement centers on tightening governance and reducing the risk of trainee litigation. Including the perspectives of managers in the remediation process will aid in its successful implementation.