Nurturing the Next Generation of Neurosurgeons: How Important Are Nontechnical Skills?

Abstract

A recent trend has occurred of increased awareness and an emphasis for teaching nontechnical skills (NTSs) in the world of surgery. Although neurosurgery has incorporated simulation-based training as a part of the training curriculum in the United Kingdom, it has yet to formally introduce NTS training. The present study, therefore, queried both neurosurgical trainees and tutors regarding how much they valued NTSs and their development. We performed a questionnaire-based, mixed-methods study to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of both neurosurgical trainees and tutors regarding NTSs across neurosurgical centers in the United Kingdom in 2015. The trainees valued NTSs and their development more than did their tutor counterparts (P < 0.05, z-testing). This was evident from both the quantitative results and the qualitative data gained from the questionnaire. Various areas for potential improvement of the curriculum were also identified. The results of the present study highlight the importance of NTS development in neurosurgery. These results could act as a good starting point for further larger scale similar studies and discussion on curriculum committees.