Training Cesarean Section: A Scoping Review.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Cesarean section (CS) is a common surgical procedure.
• Effective training strategies are crucial for surgeon competency.
• Existing literature on CS educational strategies requires synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of educational strategies for cesarean section training.
• To identify and categorize current training and assessment methods.
• To highlight gaps in the literature regarding CS surgical skills development.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across relevant databases.
• Inclusion of 28 studies in the review.
• Thematic analysis to identify and group training strategies.

Main Results:

• Identified strategies include simulation-based training (team, in situ, technical), simulators (low- and high-fidelity), clinical training, e-learning, classroom learning, and assessment.
• Simulation-based training, particularly team training, is effective for improving non-technical skills essential for emergency CS.
• Low-fidelity simulators offer a cost-effective alternative for surgical skills training.

Conclusions:

• Simulation-based training offers a safe and controlled environment for CS education.
• While simulation is promising, the literature on CS training and assessment remains limited.
• Further research is warranted to advance the field of cesarean section surgical skills training and assessment.