P490 So What Is NEWS? An audit of near-to-peer surgical teaching with qualitative and quantitative analyses

Published Date: 07th October 2026

Publication Authors: Marples. T, Raouf. Z, Sharif. M, Smith. G, Krishnan. G

Aim
To analyse and improve the effectiveness of an existent surgical teaching programme within our colorectal department by incorporating formal assessment.

Methods
Southport Hospital (MWL Teaching Hospitals) operates a teaching programme for Y5 medical students from the University of Liverpool, which includes a hybrid session on NEWS2 utilising didactic and bedside teaching techniques in the colorectal department. Advancing the feedback process used in a previous cycle, the authors developed a compound questionnaire to assess confidence and formatively test knowledge before and after each session, allowing qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Results
Previous analysis found that following the session, confidence responding to NEWS rose 62.2%, confidence taking histories rose 7.09%, and confidence examining a patient rose 25.3%. This repeat cycle demonstrated consistency with confidence responding to NEWS rising 87%, using ABCDE rising 51%, and new tenets of the teaching -escalating concerns (38%), and delivering emergency treatments (86%). The authors demonstrated efficacy in addressing students’ self-reported pre-session aims with feedback highlighting the benefits of exposure to a real patient scoring high NEWS and the hybrid approach built confidence and forced critical thinking. Students improved in formative assessment from scoring initially 61% to 72% (after the session) on average – underperforming mainly on questions about septic screening.

Conclusion
This project demonstrated that the teaching methods are effective in addressing students’ aims, concerns, and built confidence. The addition of formative assessment revealed gaps in the teaching that were not covered by text-based feedback. Further adaptation to the didactic component would cover the gap in knowledge of septic screening and be amenable to re-audit. Including formative assessment in teaching has broad applicability across subspecialties.

Marples. T; Raouf, Z; Sharif, M; Smith, G; Krishnan, G. (2026). P490 So What Is NEWS? An audit of near-to-peer surgical teaching with qualitative and quantitative analyses. Colorectal Disease. 28(S2), [Online]. Available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/codi.70595 [Accessed 14 October 2026]