The use of performance profiles in the design of a systematic medical suturing training programme

Systematic training methods are generated by contrasting task knowledge and skill performance profiles of highly experienced workers against those of inexperienced, through task and skills analysis. Training methods are then developed based on performance profile differences rather than similarities. The studies reported in this paper are concerned with the methodology and findings of task and skills analysis used in the development of a systematic training programme for medical suturing. The general conclusions suggest the following: (1) the experienced and inexperienced groups differ in task knowledge on the task components - (a) proper instrument handling, (b) hierarchy of elements that must be followed in attaining symmetric and atraumatic would closures and (c) proper suture tension during instrument knot-tying; (2) inexperienced workers exhibited significantly higher number of anatomical position changes during task performance than the experienced surgeons; (3) due to task knowledge profiles and unique usage of hand, finger and thumb of the favoured and non-favoured hand, the surgeons were approximately three times faster than the students on critical task elements; and (4) the contrasting of performance profiles developed through task and skills analysis is a valuable tool in the development of an analytical training strategies for technical psychomotor surgical skills.