Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
Step By Step: Microsurgical training method combining two nonliving animal models
Published on: May 9, 2015
Development and dissemination of a series of surgical skills and procedures video tutorials using a novel, low-cost,
Mayte Bryce-Alberti1, Rachel E Wittenberg2, Michael J Kirsch3
1Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
Introduction:
Surgical simulation and video-based learning are limited in lower-resource settings. We sought to develop and assess a series of surgical tutorials using a low-cost simulator.
Methods:
We created 8 surgical skills and procedures videos using low-cost equipment. We assessed video quality using the DISCERN scale and the Global Quality Scale (GQS).
Results:
Videos ranged from surgical techniques to complex procedures. We uploaded these to Youtube and included them in the curriculum of a medical school in Rwanda. Excluding the cost of the kit (25 USD), production costs ranged from 2 to 5 USD. All videos scored a mean DISCERN of 2.44 ± 1.05 and GQS of 3.06 ± 0.90. Generally, these lacked points on providing additional sources of information and addressing areas of uncertainty.
Conclusions:
This study addresses the demand for accessible surgical education resources. Using low-cost, standardized materials ensures consistency, democratization of training, and feasibility.
