[Retention of procedural competences in medicine students after training using a simulation model]

Area of Science:

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

Background:

• Short-term boot camps are utilized for rapid acquisition of basic surgical skills like suturing.
• Assessing long-term skill retention is crucial for effective medical training programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the durability of procedural skills acquired by medical students in a simulation-based suturing workshop.
• To determine if simulation training leads to sustained proficiency in suturing techniques.

Main Methods:

• One hundred five medical students underwent training using the EPROBA methodology.
• The Objective Structured Assessment Of Technical Skills (OSATS) was used for pre-workshop, post-workshop, and 3-4 month retention assessments.
• Participants were stratified based on prior suturing knowledge.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in OSATS scores was observed post-workshop (12.9 to 28.5, p < 0.001).
• No significant difference was found between immediate post-workshop scores and retention module scores (28.5 vs. 28.1, p = 0.235).
• Skill retention was consistent across different levels of prior suturing experience.

Conclusions:

• Simulation-based programs are effective for teaching procedural skills.
• Acquired procedural skills demonstrate significant long-term retention in medical students.