Survey of Vascular Surgery Trainees Suggests Standardized Vascular Laboratory Curriculum During Training May Be Valuable

Although the Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI) examination is required for vascular surgery board certification, no standardized noninvasive vascular laboratory (NIVL) curriculum for vascular surgery trainees exists. The purpose of this study was to investigate the NIVL experience of trainees to understand what helps them feel well prepared. Current trainees in all 114 of the 0 + 5 and 5 + 2 vascular surgery training programs were surveyed. The most complete survey from each program was included in the analysis. Programs were divided into those whose trainees felt well prepared and those who felt unprepared for the RPVI. Responses for the two groups were compared. Responses from 61 of the 114 programs (53.5%) were analyzed. Most programs devote <0.5 day per week to the NIVL (52.5%), assign lectures and textbook reading (55.7% and 47.5%), and provide hands-on experience with vascular technologists (60.7%) and attending surgeons (52.5%). Respondents from 15 programs (24.6%) took an RPVI review course. The first-time RPVI pass rate was 92.9% (13 of 14 trainees). The well-prepared group reported higher rates of a structured curriculum for the NIVL (100% vs 33.3%; P = .0001), one-on-one time with vascular technologists (78.6% vs 44.4%; P = .05), mandatory lectures (78.6% vs 33.3%; P = .004), and assigned articles (64.3% vs 11.1%; P = .002; Table). Logistic regression was performed with lectures, articles, experience with vascular technicians, and RPVI review course to determine the variables that contribute to trainees’ feeling well prepared. None of the variables reached statistical significance, although lectures (odds ratio, 15.9; P = .08) and articles (odds ratio, 15.9; P = .07) came close. There is wide variation in NIVL experience among vascular surgery training programs. Many trainees feel unprepared for the RPVI examination, especially those without a structured curriculum. These results suggest that a structured NIVL curriculum that includes dedicated time with vascular technologists, lectures, and articles should be established. A standardized review course available to all vascular surgery training programs should also be considered.TableSurvey responses—Well prepared vs unpreparedSurvey questionsWell prepared (n = 14), %Unprepared (n = 18), %P valueStructured curriculum10033.3.0001Curriculum includes lectures78.633.3.004Curriculum includes videos42.922.2.21Curriculum includes textbook reading71.438.9.07Curriculum includes assigned articles64.311.1.002One-on-one time with attending physician71.455.6.36Hands-on experience with vascular technicians78.644.4.05<0.5 day per week spent in vascular laboratory42.961.1.30Met 500 study requirement in first 6 months35.711.1.09Review course before RPVI64.322.2.03RPVI, Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation. Open table in a new tab