Enhancing Resident Engagement and Oral Board Preparation Through a Flipped Classroom Model for the American Board of Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The American Board of Surgery certification represents the culmination of surgical training, signifying a surgeon's competency and readiness for practice. Residents are less familiar with the oral examination format and often find it more challenging than multiple-choice assessments. Our aim was to evaluate a curriculum change integrating structured oral examination scenarios into our weekly didactic sessions. Methodology: This study evaluated a curricular change performed in 2022. Two approaches were used to assess the impact of this change. A survey was conducted before and one year after the implementation to evaluate subjective perceptions of the new format. We also compared first-time pass rates for the American Board of Surgery Qualifying and Certifying exams before and after the change.

RESULTS: The incorporation of oral scenarios led to increased resident engagement and satisfaction. Residents expressed a preference for the new format and reported feeling better prepared for the American Board of Surgery Certifying Exam. This study also showed a trend toward improved first-time pass rates.

CONCLUSIONS: A portion of surgical training is dedicated to preparing residents for the annual examinations and, indirectly, the Qualifying Examination. Given the lower pass rates for the Certifying Examination, surgical training programs should allocate additional resources toward comprehensive board preparation. The addition of oral examination scenarios into routine didactics may serve as an effective strategy to better equip residents for their board certification process.