A cost-effective proficiency-based knot-tying and suturing curriculum for residency programs.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Skills Training
• Curriculum Development

Background:

• Standardized surgical skills curricula are essential for resident training.
• Expert-derived performance goals enhance skill acquisition.
• Evaluating feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and validity is crucial for curriculum adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a structured open skills curriculum for knot-tying and suturing.
• To assess the curriculum's feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and construct validity.
• To establish expert-derived performance goals for training endpoints.

Main Methods:

• Developed 11 standardized surgical tasks using bench models and validated metrics (time, errors).
• Created a video tutorial based on expert performance to establish training endpoints.
• Conducted a pilot study with 4 PGY-1 residents, including baseline and post-testing over 4 weeks.

Main Results:

• Trainees achieved 91% proficiency during training and 84% at post-testing, showing significant skill improvement.
• Construct validity was confirmed by significant differences between baseline trainee and expert performance.
• The curriculum cost $1200 for development and less than $12 per participant for incremental training.

Conclusions:

• The developed surgical skills curriculum is cost-effective, feasible, and educationally beneficial.
• The curriculum demonstrates construct validity, supporting its use in residency programs.
• Widespread adoption of standardized, validated skills curricula is recommended for residency programs.