Evaluating a trainee’s progress in surgical dexterity

The local cardiac surgical training program is modelled on a one-to-one apprenticeship encompassing a number of years. Trainee progress is regularly audited and work of increasing complexity is provided, commensurate with the trainee's ability. Speed and accuracy are desirable surgical goals and reflect a high level of decision-making and dexterity. The trainee's surgical speed over a period of time was monitored as one measure of progress. The mean time required to complete a coronary anastomosis (graft time) decreased from 12.8±1.9minutes in the first year of training to 9.0±1.9minutes in year four, inter-group variance (ANOVA) was highly significant from year two to year three and from year three to year four (p