Perfecting practice: a protocol for assessing simulation-based mastery learning and deliberate practice versus...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Skills Training
• Simulation-Based Medical Education

Background:

• Simulation-based medical education (SBME) is crucial for procedural skill development in residency.
• Mastery learning, incorporating deliberate practice, is key for expert performance in routine skills.
• The value of structured practice for rare, life-saving procedures like bougie-assisted cricothyroidotomy (BAC) requires evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare a modified mastery learning approach with deliberate practice against self-guided practice for BAC technical skill acquisition.
• To assess the impact of different practice strategies on skill performance and retention.

Main Methods:

• A multi-center randomized study involving 160 residents across Canadian and American programs.
• Participants were assigned to either mastery learning with deliberate practice (ML+DP) or self-guided practice for BAC.
• Skill performance was assessed using a global rating scale at baseline, immediately post-practice, and at 6 months.

Main Results:

• This section is to be filled after the study's completion.

Conclusions:

• Mastery learning with deliberate practice offers structured feedback for skill acquisition but is resource-intensive.
• This study will yield generalizable data on the effectiveness of structured practice for rare, critical procedures in postgraduate medical education.
• Findings will inform optimal training strategies for both short-term and long-term performance.