The pretrained novice: using simulation-based training to improve learning in the operating room.

Full Abstract

Enabling trainees to acquire advanced technical skills before they begin the operating room experience benefits both trainee and patient. Whether medical students who had received exclusively simulation-based training could perform laparoscopic suturing and knot-tying as well as senior surgery residents was determined. Simulators were used to train 11 fourth-year medical students with no previous suturing experience to perform intracorporeal suturing and to successfully tie a free-hand intracorporeal knot. Students' skills were assessed by the performance of the fundal suturing portion of a Nissen fundoplication in a porcine model. Their operative performance was evaluated for time, needle manipulations, and total errors. Results were compared to those of 11 senior-level surgery residents performing the same task. The study concluded that trainees could learn advanced technical skills such as laparoscopic suturing and knot tying by using simulation exclusively. The trainees and senior level surgery residents had a similar number of needle manipulations.

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Author information

Author/s: Van Sickle, Kent R (KR); Ritter, E Matt (EM); Smith, C Daniel (CD);

Affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of General and Laparoendoscopic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA. sickle(-atsign-)uthscsa.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial

Journal: Surgical innovation (Surg Innov), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Sep; vol 13 (issue 3) : pp 198-204

Dates: Created 2006/10/23; Completed 2007/01/30; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 17056786, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Clinical Competence
Competency-Based Education - methods
Double-Blind Method
Education, Medical, Undergraduate - methods
Feasibility Studies

General Surgery - education
Humans
Laparoscopy
Suture Techniques - education
Teaching Materials

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