Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40968211›Full record

ArticleSurgical endoscopy2025

Evaluation of the Master's program: A SAGES pilot educational initiative.

M Michael Awad, E Matthew Ritter, R James Korndorffer, John Dwyer, Divya Jahagirdar, Nataniel Jayaram, Deena Sukhon, Jonathan Williams, A Dana Telem, A Michael Rubyan

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Article in Surgical endoscopy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

M Michael AwadDepartment of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, Box 8109, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA. awadm@wustl.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6065-7050
E Matthew RitterDepartment of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
R James KorndorfferDepartment of Medical Education, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
John DwyerInstructional Designer, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Divya JahagirdarDepartment of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Nataniel JayaramUniversity of Michigan School of Information, Ann Arbor, USA.
Deena SukhonOakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI, USA.
Jonathan WilliamsDepartment of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
A Dana TelemDepartment of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
A Michael RubyanDepartment of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHigh-quality program development in surgical education is essential for ensuring that training initiatives are both effective and scalable. Implementing such programs requires careful consideration of their long-term sustainability and impact on diverse clinical settings. The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) developed the Master's Program as a structured, competency-based online curriculum designed to provide high-quality continuing education for surgeons at various career stages. This study evaluates the pilot phase of the Master's Program, emphasizing its effectiveness in training surgeons while assessing its scalability and implementation challenges within surgical education frameworks.

methodsA mixed-methods approach was used, combining qualitative and quantitative assessments. A purposive sample of U.S.-based surgeons was recruited through SAGES membership outreach and snowball sampling. Participants engaged in video-conferenced usability testing and completed the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA) questionnaire. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using thematic analysis, while quantitative responses were evaluated using descriptive statistics.

resultsA total of 27 surgeons participated. Participant demographics: Of the 27 participants, 16 (59%) were practicing surgeons and 41% were trainees. Sixty-three percent of practicing surgeons were in community hospitals, and half had less than five years of experience. Participants rated the program highly in overall acceptability (mean: 4.7/5), confidence in applying the material (4.6/5), and ease of navigation (2.0/5 indicating low burden). Qualitative themes identified included content accessibility, navigational challenges, and recommendations for deeper, more advanced material for experienced surgeons.

conclusionsThe SAGES Master's Program demonstrated strong acceptability, particularly among early-career surgeons. While the modular, structured approach was well received, refinements are needed to better cater to advanced practitioners. To enhance adoption and scale this program, future iterations should focus on the planned expanded content depth, improved navigation, and institutional purchasing models to enhance adoption.

Indexed as

Education, DistanceEducation, Medical, ContinuingAdultClinical CompetenceCurriculumFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPilot ProjectsProgram EvaluationSocieties, MedicalSurveys and QuestionnairesUnited StatesCompetency-based trainingContinuing medical educationMaster’s programOnline learningSurgical education

Identifiers

PMID40968211

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.