Objective: This Week in SCORE (TWIS) is a biennial, general surgery curriculum comprised of weekly online modules, readings, and multiple-choice quizzes. In this study, we examined the impact of required TWIS on American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) scores and well-being among categorical general surgery residents.
Design, setting, and participants: TWIS quiz completion became required in 2017. Residents attended weekly lectures, and ABSITE performance was incentivized with educational stipends. Surveys were distributed to assess study preferences, learning styles, burnout, and grit. Thirty-six categorical general surgery residents who took ABSITE in both 2017 and 2018 were evaluated in a paired-sample, retrospective analysis.
Results: After requiring TWIS, median ABSITE percentile increased by 12% (65%-77%, p = 0.001). Weekly TWIS completion (59% vs 89%, p < 0.001) and quiz results (62% vs 69%, p = 0.005) also improved. During this time, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization declined significantly, yet overall burnout scores did not change. Of 21 survey respondents, 66.7% (n = 14) increased weekly study time by a median of 2.5 hours. However, less than half used Surgical Council on Resident Education as their primary study tool. Only 23.8% (n = 5) reported that mandatory TWIS modified their study behavior, while 90.4% (n = 19) felt the culture of education had improved.
Conclusions: After TWIS participation became required, ABSITE performances improved. Formalized curriculum with frequent assessment may foster accountability among residents, enhancing educational climate, well-being, and test performance.
Keywords: ABSITE; Culture; Medical Knowledge; SCORE curriculum; TWIS; burnout.
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