NCT03650959

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

Optimizing Resource Utilization During Proficiency-Based Training of Suturing Skills to Medical Students: a Randomized Controlled Trial of Faculty-Led, Peer Tutor-Led, and Computer Augmented Methods of Teaching

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 44 (actual)
• Sponsor: Queen's University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: —
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Education, Medical
• Sutures

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Method of learning simple interrupted sutures with instrument tie	Students will train to proficiency (defined by hand motion analysis) on simple interrupted sutures with an instrument tie via one of three different methods: faculty-led, peer tutor-led, or computer augmented self-directed learning.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-06-04
• Primary completion: 2019-06-16
• Completion: 2019-06-16
• First posted: 2018-08-29
• Last updated: 2024-09-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada