The Influence of an Acting or Subintern on Third-Year Medical School Surgery Clerkship Students

Background: Previous reports demonstrated a positive relationship between the surgical clerkship and student likelihood of pursuing a surgical career, but no studies have examined the influence a peer has on comfort during a surgical clerkship. We hypothesized that a fourth-year acting intern (AI) would positively impact third-year medical students' experience during their surgical clerkship. Methods: All third-year medical students at our institution who completed their surgical clerkship in 2019 were surveyed regarding the preclerkship and postclerkship perceptions. Results: Of the 110 students surveyed, 52 responded (47.3% response rate), and 25 students (48.1%) reported having an AI during their clerkship rotation, and 27 did not (51.9%). Presence of an AI had no significant effect on the postclerkship perception of surgery, likelihood of pursuing general surgery, or comfort in the OR. Analysis of all responses demonstrated the surgery clerkship had no significant impact on students' perception of surgery or likelihood of pursuing general surgery but did statistically increase students' comfort in the OR. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that AI presence did not significantly influence a student's clerkship experience or comfort in the OR. Further studies are needed to determine what, if any effect, an AI could have on third-year clerkship students. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The presence of fourth-year acting interns did not significantly influence the clerkship experience or comfort in the operating room of third-year medical students. Further studies are needed to determine any potential effects of acting interns on third-year clerkship students.