Can a Single-Day Surgical Innovation Intervention Produce Measurable Gains in Innovation Competencies Among Undergraduate Learners?

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ID: 315783
2026
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Abstract
Abstract Background Modern surgical practice increasingly depends on innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and engagement with medical technology, particularly in complex fields such as surgical oncology. However, undergraduate training offers limited structured exposure to surgical innovation processes and early-stage MedTech development. As a result, students may lack confidence in identifying unmet surgical needs, developing solutions, and communicating innovative ideas. Short, immersive interventions such as hackathons may offer a scalable approach to simulate real-world surgical innovation environments, yet evidence of their impact within surgical contexts remains limited. Aims To evaluate whether a single-day, student-led surgical oncology innovation hackathon can produce measurable gains in innovation-related competencies among undergraduate learners. Methods The hackathon delivered keynote talks and industry expert mentorship to three-person multidisciplinary teams working on surgically themed problem statements. Pre- and post-event questionnaires assessed confidence in generating innovative ideas, interdisciplinary teamwork, prototype development, pitching ideas, applying technology to surgical problems, and identifying unmet needs in cancer surgery. Responses were recorded using five-point Likert scales. Pre- and post-event responses were analysed using Mann-Whitney U testing with Bonferroni correction (p < 0.0071). Results Fifty-four participants completed the pre-event questionnaire and forty-seven completed the post-event questionnaire, including students from medicine, engineering, and computer science. Significant improvements were observed in confidence in idea generation (median 3-4, z = -4.18, p < .00001), prototype development (median 3-4, z = -4.364, p < .00001), pitching and presenting ideas (median 3-4, z = -2.757, p = .00578), applying technology to surgical problems (median 3-4, z = -3.554, p = .00038), and identifying unmet needs in cancer surgery (median 3-4, z = -4.235, p < .00001). Improvements in teamwork were not significant. Overall satisfaction was high (85.1%). Conclusion A single-day surgical innovation hackathon produced measurable gains in innovation competencies among undergraduate learners, supporting its role as a scalable intervention for developing future surgeons’ engagement with innovation and MedTech.
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Authors M Abbas, Y Belhocine, P Benning, A Yadav, H Akbar, A Bhatti, P Eswaran, N Varma, O Kiwan, R Mcbride
Journal the british journal of surgery
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/bjs/znag055.020
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znag055.020
Keywords Keywords not found

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