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

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Education, Medical; Sutures
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Method of learning simple interrupted sutures with instrument tie

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 44
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6
      • Queen's Unviersity

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Second year, pre-clerkship medical students

Exclusion Criteria:

• None

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Faculty-led	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.
Experimental: Peer tutor-led	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.
Experimental: Computer augmented self-directed learning	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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Number of stitched laid to reach proficiency	Five days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Number of sutures used to reach proficiency	Five days
Minutes to reach proficiency	Five days
Individual costs to reach proficiency	Five days

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Learning curves	Five days
Student preferences	Five days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Queen's University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 4, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 8, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): June 8, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 27, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 27, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): August 29, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 29, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 27, 2018
• Last Verified: August 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: SURG-422-18

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No