Teaching Subcuticular Suturing to Medical Students: Video versus Expert Instructor Feedback

• Published in: Journal of surgical education Vol. 68; no. 5; pp. 397 - 402
• Main Authors: Shippey, Stuart H., MD, Chen, Tiffany L., MS, Chou, Betty, MD, Knoepp, Leise R., MD, MPH, Bowen, Craig W., PhD, Handa, Victoria L., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2011
• Subjects: anatomic models; Baltimore; General Surgery - education; Humans; instructional films and videos; Interpersonal Relations; Medical Knowledge; medical students; motor skills; Patient Care; Practice Based Learning and Improvement; Schools, Medical; Students, Medical; Surgery; Suture Techniques; sutures; Baltimore; sutures; instructional films and videos; Patient Care; medical students; Medical Knowledge; anatomic models; Practice Based Learning and Improvement; motor skills
• ISSN: 1931-7204; 1878-7452
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2011.04.006

Objective Given limitations in surgical educational resources, more efficient teaching methods are needed. We sought to evaluate 3 strategies for improving skills in subcuticular suturing—practice with an instructional video, practice with expert instructor supervision, and independent practice. Design Fifty-eight medical students volunteered for this research. Students viewed a video on subcuticular suturing then completed a pretest requiring closure of an incision in a plastic model. Students were randomized among 3 groups: practice with an instructional video (group A), practice with supervision by an expert instructor (group B), and independent practice (group C). After instruction, students completed a posttest, then a retention test 1 week later. Their performances were video recorded and evaluated using a validated scoring instrument composed of global and task-specific subscales. Results Performances measured using both subscales improved significantly from pretest to post-test only for group B. However, when comparing student performances between pretest and retention posttest, significant improvements on both subscales were seen only in group A. Conclusion These results suggest that practice with an instructional video is an effective method for acquiring skill in subcuticular suturing.