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The effect of microsurgical training on novice medical students’ basic surgical skills—a randomized controlled trial

Almeland, Stian Kreken ; Lindford, Andrew ; Sundhagen, Henriette Pisani ; Hufthammer, Karl Ove ; Strandenes, Eivind ; Svendsen, Henrik Løvendahl ; Guttormsen, Anne Berit and Hansson, Emma LU (2020) In European Journal of Plastic Surgery 43(4). p.459-466
Abstract
Background
It has been demonstrated that medical students are capable of learning microsurgical techniques. We hypothesize that microsurgical training might give insight into the importance of delicate tissue handling and correct knot tying that could have a positive influence on macrosurgical skills. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of microsurgical training on macrosurgical suturing skills in novice medical students.
Subjects and methods
In 2018, 46 novice medical students were enrolled and randomized into two groups. The intervention group received both macro- and microsurgical training and the control group received only microsurgical training. Both groups underwent an assessment test that consisted... (More)
Background
It has been demonstrated that medical students are capable of learning microsurgical techniques. We hypothesize that microsurgical training might give insight into the importance of delicate tissue handling and correct knot tying that could have a positive influence on macrosurgical skills. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of microsurgical training on macrosurgical suturing skills in novice medical students.
Subjects and methods
In 2018, 46 novice medical students were enrolled and randomized into two groups. The intervention group received both macro- and microsurgical training and the control group received only microsurgical training. Both groups underwent an assessment test that consisted of macrosurgical tasks of three simple interrupted sutures with a square knot and continuous three-stitch long over-and-over sutures. These tests were individually filmed and assessed using the University of Bergen suturing skills assessment tool (UBAT) and the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill global rating scale (OSATS). Questionnaires regarding future career ambitions and attitudes towards plastic surgery were also completed both prior to and following the tests.
Results
The intervention group needed a longer time to complete the tasks than the control group (12.2 min vs. 9.6 min, p > 0.001), and scored lower on both the UBAT (5.6 vs. 9.0, p > 0.001) and the OSATS (11.1 vs. 13.1, p > 0.001) assessments. The microsurgery course tended to positively influence the students’ attitudes towards a career in plastic surgery (p = 0.002). This study demonstrates poorer macrosurgical skills in the medical students group exposed to microsurgical training. The true effect of microsurgical training warrants further investigation.
Level of evidence: Level I, diagnostic study. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
European Journal of Plastic Surgery
volume
43
issue
4
pages
459 - 466
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85077365472
ISSN
0930-343X
DOI
10.1007/s00238-019-01615-w
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
e995522c-1c8f-44f5-9ad9-648f0c0948c6
alternative location
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00238-019-01615-w
date added to LUP
2020-01-02 23:22:48
date last changed
2022-06-30 07:33:12
@article{e995522c-1c8f-44f5-9ad9-648f0c0948c6,
  abstract     = {{Background<br>
It has been demonstrated that medical students are capable of learning microsurgical techniques. We hypothesize that microsurgical training might give insight into the importance of delicate tissue handling and correct knot tying that could have a positive influence on macrosurgical skills. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of microsurgical training on macrosurgical suturing skills in novice medical students.<br>
Subjects and methods<br>
In 2018, 46 novice medical students were enrolled and randomized into two groups. The intervention group received both macro- and microsurgical training and the control group received only microsurgical training. Both groups underwent an assessment test that consisted of macrosurgical tasks of three simple interrupted sutures with a square knot and continuous three-stitch long over-and-over sutures. These tests were individually filmed and assessed using the University of Bergen suturing skills assessment tool (UBAT) and the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill global rating scale (OSATS). Questionnaires regarding future career ambitions and attitudes towards plastic surgery were also completed both prior to and following the tests.<br>
Results<br>
The intervention group needed a longer time to complete the tasks than the control group (12.2 min vs. 9.6 min, p &gt; 0.001), and scored lower on both the UBAT (5.6 vs. 9.0, p &gt; 0.001) and the OSATS (11.1 vs. 13.1, p &gt; 0.001) assessments. The microsurgery course tended to positively influence the students’ attitudes towards a career in plastic surgery (p = 0.002). This study demonstrates poorer macrosurgical skills in the medical students group exposed to microsurgical training. The true effect of microsurgical training warrants further investigation.<br>
Level of evidence: Level I, diagnostic study.}},
  author       = {{Almeland, Stian Kreken and Lindford, Andrew and Sundhagen, Henriette Pisani and Hufthammer, Karl Ove and Strandenes, Eivind and Svendsen, Henrik Løvendahl and Guttormsen, Anne Berit and Hansson, Emma}},
  issn         = {{0930-343X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{459--466}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Plastic Surgery}},
  title        = {{The effect of microsurgical training on novice medical students’ basic surgical skills—a randomized controlled trial}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00238-019-01615-w}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00238-019-01615-w}},
  volume       = {{43}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}