Effectiveness of an Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Residents' Induction “Boot Camp” in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT Introduction The otolaryngology (ORL) boot camp was designed to onboard ORL residents through a curriculum focusing on their needs as novice otolaryngologists. This boot camp provided systematic, specialty-wide training in core elements of knowledge, procedural skills, professionalism, supervision, and communications for residents entering ORL. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an ORL resident induction “boot camp” in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods This was a cross-sectional (multicenter) study encompassing data collection through an online voluntary questionnaire. Participants were new ORL residents in the Saudi residency training program. Results Fifty responses were returned, with a completion rate of 88%. Sixty-four percent of the respondents were male. Most of the respondents were aged from 26 to 27 years. Respondents were from different cities. Most participants agreed that the scientific value of the course was beneficial (agree, 40%; strongly agree, 44%) and they felt better prepared for their residency training after this boot camp (agree, 44%; strongly agree, 28%). Conclusion Boot camp in ORL is an additional important activity during the early years of training. It provides significant effects in terms of knowledge readiness at the beginning of specialty training. We believe that boot camp should include other dimensions of training, including surgical, communication, and judgmental skills, not only for the early years of training but also during the remaining period until training completion.