Table 3 Learning objectives and exemplary citations

1

Practical skills: Suturing and working under sterile conditions

n = 25

• I can close a laceration

• At least I now have rudimentary skills on how to suture

• I know how to suture and tie a surgical knot which helps after putting in a Sheldon catheter.

• How to perform surgical hand scrubs

• How to move when scrubbed

• The rules of scrubbing

2

Professional Behavior:

n = 16

• Relevance of team functioning and team communication

• The importance of good communication for a team

• Communication is crucial for the team

• I saw a good example of cooperation between different specialties.

• Sometimes it’s better not to speak one’s mind

• the OR is no place for democracy, the one who is in charge must decide

• Management of critical incidents

• Being disciplined triggers professionalism

• I learned the relevance of keeping calm in critical situations

• Keeping calm is most important

• Altruism/Self-care

• Keep going and put personal matters aside

•Making sure one eats and drinks enough

• Coping with fainting

• Work ethics

• Importance of accuracy for patient safety

• Concentration is all important

• If a surgeon works sloppily, complications arise and the patient pays

3

Working conditions

n = 15

• There is an enormous amount of pressure on surgeons

• Standing for long hours without breaks

• It’s such hard work

• The work is physically exhausting

4

Highlights n = 12

• I remember individual procedures where a complication occurred

• I witnessed a very bloody procedure on a ruptured aneurysm.

• A traumatic penis rupture looked awful.

5

Working autonomously under supervision

n = 7

• I was allowed to do an orchidopexy, I will never forget the indication for this procedure.

• I did an implant removal and experienced how different tissues feel.