Supporting performance from outside the operating theatre: A pilot study of the acceptability and relevance of performance enhancement coaching to newly appointed urology trainees.

Cooper L.; Wadhwa K.; Rochester M.; Biyani C.S.; Doherty R.

Supporting performance from outside the operating theatre: A pilot study of the acceptability and relevance of performance enhancement coaching to newly appointed urology trainees.

All Authors

Cooper L.

Wadhwa K.

Rochester M.

Biyani C.S.

Doherty R.

LTHT Author

Biyani, Shekhar

LTHT Department

Abdominal Medicine & Surgery
Urology

Publication Date

2024

Item Type

Conference Abstract

Subject

EDUCATION , UROLOGY , MENTORING , OPERATING ROOMS , EDUCATION, MEDICAL, GRADUATE

Abstract

Introduction: Performance enhancement coaching (PEC) is established in professional sport, but is rarely taken up by surgeons, despite encouraging results in improving surgeons' technical skill and wellbeing. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of PEC for newly appointed urology registrars. Material(s) and Method(s): All delegates on the Urology Bootcamp 2023 were invited to take part in an online survey around surgical performance before, and after, a twohour PEC workshop, delivered by a surgeon with a professional coaching qualification, to groups of four delegates at a time over four days. Ten pre-defined focus areas were offered during the session. Result(s): Anxiety during performance was the most common concern (63%), associated with a tremor in 55%. At 19% of responses each were: sleep, insufficient operative skill, and worry about relationships with trainers. The commonest topics selected were 'the inner critic' (100%), 'autonomic modulation' (69%), 'not working, well' (13%) and 'optimising study' (6%). 77% were unaware of PEC for practising surgeons. All respondents felt that they would benefit from PEC to some extent, 80% 8/10 where 10/10 was 'very useful'), ideally around ST3 level. 62% of respondents deemed a fee for trainees appropriate, whereas 38% thought it should be free and paid for by their training authorities. Conclusion(s): The concept of PEC is acceptable to ST3 Urology trainees, with particular interest in techniques to mitigate negative self-Talk and autonomic modulation techniques. Existing barriers to coaching for the surgical community would need to be addressed in designing an acceptable coaching programme.