Microsurgical skills training course and impact on trainee confidence and workload

Area of Science:

• Microsurgery Training
• Surgical Education
• Skill Acquisition

Background:

• Microsurgery requires specialized training for proficiency.
• Assessing the impact of basic training courses on trainee confidence and workload is crucial for effective surgical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of a basic microsurgery training course on participants' confidence and perceived workload.
• To determine if prior microsurgery experience influences the outcomes of the training course.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 31 participants in a 5-day accredited microsurgery course.
• Confidence and workload assessed using validated visual analog scales (VAS) and the NASA Task Load Index.
• Assessments conducted on the first and final days of the course.

Main Results:

• All dimensions of confidence significantly improved post-course (p<0.01), irrespective of prior experience.
• Trainees with prior experience reported higher initial and final confidence in anastomosis and vessel preparation (p<0.05).
• Overall workload showed a downward trend, with a significant reduction in perceived physical demand (p=0.01).

Conclusions:

• The basic microsurgery course effectively enhances trainee confidence in fundamental skills.
• The 5-day course positively impacts skill acquisition, though perceived workload did not significantly change.
• The training is beneficial for individuals intending to practice microsurgery.