Anesthesiology residencies provide a median 2-week NORA rotation but directors desire 4 weeks; only 7% require minimum NORA cases, highlighting training gaps.
There is a significant discrepancy between the perceived importance of Non-Operating Room Anesthesia (NORA) training and the short, variable rotations currently provided by US anesthesiology residency programs.
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Characterize current practices and perceived needs related to Non-Operating Room Anesthesia (NORA) training in United States (US) anesthesiology residency programs. Cross-sectional survey of anesthesiology residency program directors (PDs). The survey was delivered electronically to PDs and program coordinators. US residency programs, represented by PDs. We also distributed the survey to senior residents and recent graduates but received few responses and thus only included them in the qualitative analysis. Not applicable. Current and desired length of the NORA rotation, case exposures, NORA sites/procedures, rotation-specific curricula, and perceived essential components of NORA training. 57 (35%) of 164 program directors completed the survey, representing approximately 50% of all US anesthesiology residency positions. Median reported length of NORA rotations was 2 weeks (interquartile range (IQR) 2–4) consistent with current American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) mandates. However, median desired rotation length was 4 weeks (IQR 4–4, p < 0.001). Only 4 (7%) programs required a minimum number of NORA cases or specific sites/procedures for graduation. Residents were exposed to a median of 10 (IQR 4–15) out of 15 common NORA sites. Free text responses from 49 program directors and 69 trainees frequently mentioned the increasing amount of NORA procedures and resulting relevance of NORA training for practice. Perceived essential components of NORA training include resource and equipment constraints, clinical decision making, exposure to specific sites or procedures, patient and provider safety, and teamwork/communication. A discrepancy exists between the perceived importance of the NORA rotation to prepare residents for post-graduation anesthesia practice versus the short and variable NORA rotation currently provided by US residency programs. A standardized NORA content outline addressing essential NORA challenges will support education in this rapidly expanding heterogeneous specialty.
Schroeck et al. (Sun,) reported a other. Anesthesiology residencies provide a median 2-week NORA rotation but directors desire 4 weeks; only 7% require minimum NORA cases, highlighting training gaps.