Medical student hand preference, perceived dexterity, and impact of handedness on training

The ubiquity of right-handed instruments and a predominance of right-handed surgical faculty present a challenge to left-handed trainees. Little is known about hand preference and its impact on specialty selection. We sought to evaluate hand preference, perceived dexterity, and impact of handedness on training among medical students.

A survey was distributed to third and fourth year medical students. Hand preference was queried for various activities. A Likert scale was used to assess perceived dexterity and impact of handedness on training. Fisher's exact test was used to compare groups.

Of those queried, 131 (37%) responded. Handedness was defined by writing preference: right (80%), left (18%), other (2%). Left-handed students were more likely to perceive themselves to be ambidextrous (50% versus 15%; P < 0.001) and prefer their contralateral hand for at least one other activity (50% versus 4%; P < 0.001). Left-handed students were significantly more likely to report that handedness affected their specialty selection (33% versus 10%; P < 0.01) and training (58% versus 6%; P < 0.001). In addition, they reported that they would benefit from additional training with right-handed instruments (61% versus 31%; P < 0.01), availability of left-handed instruments (63% versus 8%; P < 0.001), and trainers who adapted to their handedness (70% versus 14%; P < 0.001).

Left-handed medical students reported greater ambidexterity and adverse impact of handedness on training. These results provide a contemporary snapshot of hand preference in medical students and an argument for improving and adapting surgical training for left-handed individuals.