Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
Step By Step: Microsurgical training method combining two nonliving animal models
Published on: May 9, 2015
Teaching subcuticular suturing to medical students: video versus expert instructor feedback
Stuart H Shippey1, Tiffany L Chen, Betty Chou
1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. stuart-shippey@med.navy.mil
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.
