Curated collections for educators: Six key papers on teaching procedural skills

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Skills Training
• Healthcare Simulation

Background:

• Faculty across all medical specialties require competence in teaching procedural skills to learners at various levels.
• Effective procedural skills training aims for learner independence and technical proficiency.
• Existing literature offers guidance on best practices for teaching and maintaining procedural skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and synthesize best practices for teaching procedural skills to medical learners.
• To inform faculty development and curriculum design in procedural skills education.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted for articles on procedural skills training.
• A call for papers was issued through social media communities (#MedEd, #FOAMed).
• A modified Delphi process involving three rounds was used to select articles demonstrating best practices.

Main Results:

• 98 relevant articles were identified, with six deemed highly relevant.
• Key best practices include using educational frameworks, providing constructive feedback, and demonstrating procedures.
• These practices are applicable for both junior and senior faculty teaching procedural skills.

Conclusions:

• Medical educators must adopt evidence-based practices for designing and delivering procedural skills training.
• Educational frameworks offer a structured approach to teaching procedural skills.
• Simulation-based training and deliberate practice are crucial for maintaining procedural skills over time.