Role of Peer Learning in Students' Skill Acquisition and Interest in Plastic Surgery

Although the number of plastic surgery residency positions increased over the past decade, interest among Canadian medical students experienced the opposite trajectory. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a low intensity, basic surgical skills workshop on medical students' confidence and interest in surgery in general, and plastic surgery in particular.

Before and after participating in a 60-minute suturing workshop, preclinical medical students completed a cloud-based questionnaire that evaluated the changes in their suturing confidence and interest in pursuing a career in different surgical subspecialties.

Eighty-five medical students (52 females and 33 males), with an average age of 22.9 ± 3.6 years participated in this study. Before the workshop, 95% of participants perceived their suturing ability to be at a beginner's level and reported that they have not received sufficient suturing training during their medical education to date. Their self-reported confidence in suturing was 1.9 ± 2.1 out of 10. Following the workshop, participants' confidence in their surgical skills increased by 165% (P < 0.001, partial eta2 = 0.695). Moreover, 82% reported increased interest in a career in surgery associated with their participation in the workshop. Plastic surgery, general surgery, and otolaryngology were the top 3 specialties that experienced an augmented increase in interest following the workshop. Finally, plastic surgery was the specialty perceived as requiring the most surgical skills by the majority of the students.

A 60-minute basic skills suturing workshop significantly improved preclinical medical students' confidence in their surgical skills, and increased their interest in surgery.