Improving resident confidence with a low-cost interventional spine course

Background: Procedure training is highly desired by residents pursuing a career in interventional pain medicine; however, the opportunities for hands-on training may vary amongst residency programs for various reasons.

Objective: To evaluate the change in residents' self-perceive competence after participation in a novel low-cost resident interventional spine course, as well as how resident experience (years of training) influences change over time. This article offers step-by-step details on how to implement a resident interventional spine course.

Methods: Residents completed a pre- and post-course survey in the domains of self-perceived confidence, knowledge, and skills related to interventional spine procedures.

Results: Over five years, 19 individual residents participated in an annual elective interventional spine course (four residents chose to repeat the course during their training, one of which repeated it twice). The dimensions with highest percent improved change included the ability to perform a procedure kit set-up, followed by post-procedure complication management. Residents earlier in their training showed significantly greater improvement in rating their ability to conduct a pre-procedure chart review and addressing post-procedure complications compared to more experienced residents. In addition, resident feedback regarding the course was resoundingly positive. Of the 12 graduated residents, half applied and successfully matched into a pain medicine or sports medicine fellowship.

Conclusion: A low-cost interventional spine course appears to be a practical option to help improve residents' confidence related to various aspects of interventional spine procedures.