Assessing technical competency during colon and rectal surgery training

Competence in colon and rectal surgery requires a unique set of technical skills, in addition to sound judgment and devoted patient care. Assessment of technical competence is central to defining and maintaining standards and to providing constructive trainee feedback. This review aims to appraise the instruments that are available to assess technical competence in colon and rectal surgery and discuss how these can be best utilized in assessing technical competence.