INTRODUCTION: The increasing use of educational video materials has provided an alternative to traditional apprenticeship-models in surgical education. We aim to evaluate if video materials are as effective as hands-on tutoring in teaching basic microsuturing skills. Additionally, we want to see if the magnification device (microscope vs. exoscope) affects learning outcomes. RESEARCH QUESTION: Is video-based instruction an effective alternative to hands-on tutoring in teaching basic microsuturing skills to novices? MATERIALS AND METHODS: We designed an 8-h training program with videos to teach basic microsuturing skills to novices. Thirty medical students from two large medical universities in Europe (Helsinki and Prague) were randomised to receive either video instructions only (n = 20) or hands-on tutoring and video instruction (n = 10). Participants were further assigned to using either an exoscope (n = 15) or a microscope (n = 15) in their training. We assessed skill acquisition using a standardized microsuturing test task. All tasks were recorded and scored based task speed, quality of the suturing and the number of errors. RESULTS: All groups demonstrated significant improvement in suturing speed, qualitative assessment, and fewer errors. Video instructions only produced non-inferior results to hands-on tutoring in the improvement in speed, error count and quality of sutures. No significant differences were found when comparing microscope and exoscope users. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Video-based instruction and hands-on tutoring seem equally effective in teaching basic microsuturing to surgical novices, irrespective of the magnification device used. Video-materials can be utilized in microsurgical laboratory training of novices as a more resource-efficient teaching method compared to hands-on tutoring.

Department of Neurosurgery and Neurooncology 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University and Military University Hospital Prague Czech Republic

Department of Neurosurgery Helsinki University Hospital P O Box 266 FI 00029 Helsinki Finland

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