Empirical validation of the Operative Entrustability Assessment using resident performance in autologous breast reconstruction and hand surgery.

[BACKGROUND] In 2013, we developed the Operative Entrustability Assessment (OEA) to facilitate evaluation and documentation of resident operative skills. This web-based tool provides real-time, transparent feedback to residents on operative performance. This study evaluated the construct validity of the OEA, assessing its association with operative time.

[METHODS] We used simple and multiple linear regression to estimate associations between OEA scores and operative time in selected procedures performed.

[RESULTS] OEAs were completed for 93 autologous breast reconstructions and 185 hand procedures. Self-assessed OEA was associated with shorter operative time in breast (p = 0.008) and hand (p = 0.036) cases. Evaluator OEA was associated with shorter operative time in breast (p = 0.018), but not hand cases (p = 0.377). Post-graduate year was not associated.

[CONCLUSIONS] The OEA demonstrates construct validity: increasing scores are associated with shorter operative time and are better predictors of operative time than post-graduate year, making it an option for documenting competence prior to graduation.