Optimizing Resource Utilization During Proficiency-based Training of Suturing Skills to Medical Students

Queen's University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Education, Medical; Sutures

Treatments: Other: Method of learning simple interrupted sutures with instrument tie

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03650959

SURG-422-18

Details and patient eligibility

About

Evidence favours teaching procedural skills to medical students using a proficiency-based rather than time-based approach. Basic suturing skills can be taught through faculty-led, peer tutor-led, and computer augmented approaches. One method has yet to be identified as superior in terms of educational outcomes, resource utilization, and participant perspectives.

Pre-clerkship medical students were randomized to: faculty, peer tutor, or computer augmented learning. Participants practiced suturing through their randomized method until they reached targeted proficiency defined using hand motion analysis (HMA). Proficiency was defined as a score of the average plus a standard deviation of five surgeons' HMA for two of three consecutive sutures using appropriate technique.

The primary outcome was the number of stitches placed to achieve proficiency. The secondary outcomes were the number of sutures used, time, and costs incurred. Learning curves were constructed. Participants' perceptions were assessed using a follow-up survey.

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Second year, pre-clerkship medical students

Exclusion criteria

• None

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

44 participants in 3 patient groups

Faculty-led

Experimental group

Treatment:

Other: Method of learning simple interrupted sutures with instrument tie

Peer tutor-led

Experimental group

Treatment:

Other: Method of learning simple interrupted sutures with instrument tie

Computer augmented self-directed learning

Experimental group

Treatment:

Other: Method of learning simple interrupted sutures with instrument tie