Researchers from New York-based Columbia University, New York University and the University of Pittsburgh investigated whether the "July effect" is evident in adult patients treated by neurosurgeons.
The "July effect" is the theory that more medical errors occur in July due to fourth-year medical students starting internships and residencies, where they experience harder challenges.
The researchers studied neurosurgical cases between 2006 and 2012, 16,343 with residents and 20,792 without residents. The cases include adult neurosurgery, with patients undergoing spine surgery, cranial surgery, open vascular surgery or subarachnoid hemorrhage. The researchers broke down the academic training year into the first quarter (July to September) and fourth quarter (April through June). Q1 indicates the time period in which interns and residents begin their new responsibilities.
The Journal of Neurosurgery published the study.
Here are five findings:
1. The authors found no significant differences in patient outcomes in academic medical centers between the first quarter and fourth quarter, in terms of mortality, medical complications or mild complications.
2. The findings indicated no evidence for decreased efficiency during Q1, compared to Q4, in the academic setting.
3. The researchers also found no significant differences in mortality or morbidity between Q1 and Q4 in hospital-based environments.
4. The authors indicate the July transition does present various clinical challenges, but no evidence indicates a negative impact on the neurosurgery field.
5. The authors conclude their findings indicate "neurosurgical training programs are providing residents with excellent clinical and surgical education without compromising patient care."
More article on spine:
Primary care physicians lead in opioid prescriptions — 5 takeaways
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can treat iatrogenic spine surgery infection — 6 key facts
Stanford Healthcare unveils new neuroscience center, integrating care: 5 notes