Effect of Surgical Training Course on Performance of Minor Surgical Procedures in Family Medicine Physicians ’ Offices: an Observational Study

Aim To examine the influence of a practical surgical course on the num-ber of minor surgical procedures performed by family physicians. Methods We compared the number of minor surgical procedures per-formed by family physicians in 59 offices in the city of Osijek and sur-rounding rural area during 12 months before and after the 40-hour practical surgical course held in September 2006 by surgeons and family medicine specialists. Minor surgical procedures taught in the course in-cluded management of ingrown toenails, abscesses/comedones, and mi-nor wounds, anesthesia application, disinfection, use and sterilization of surgical instruments, and antibiotic treatment. Results The number of minor surgical procedures performed in family medicine offices almost doubled (503 vs 906 after the course, P<0.001, Wilcoxon test). The median number of abscesses/comedones treatments per physician increased from 1 to 6 (P<0.001, Wilcoxon test), the num-ber of managed wounds increased from 111 to 217 (P<0.001, Wilcoxo