From Simulation to Surgery: Gauging Surgical Interest in Osteopathic Medical Students Through Cadaveric Simulation: A...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Osteopathic Medicine

Background:

• Preclinical medical students often have limited exposure to surgical specialties.
• Early exposure to surgical concepts can influence career choices.
• Osteopathic medical students may face unique challenges in accessing surgical training opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if early exposure to cadaveric surgical simulation affects preclinical osteopathic medical students' interest in surgical careers.
• To assess the impact of simulation on interest in specific surgical fields and overall pursuit of surgical residencies.
• To evaluate the influence of simulation on perceptions of procedural care and career considerations.

Main Methods:

• A single-blinded, prospective cohort study design was employed.
• Pre- and post-simulation surveys were administered to assess changes in specialty interest.
• Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used for statistical analysis with significance set at P < .05.

Main Results:

• Students showed significant increases in interest in general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and orthopedic surgery post-simulation.
• Interest in procedural care and likelihood of pursuing a surgical residency increased significantly.
• Cadaveric simulations influenced 86% of participants' perceptions of surgical fields, impacting career considerations.

Conclusions:

• Cadaveric surgical simulation is a valuable tool for increasing surgical career interest among preclinical osteopathic medical students.
• Early integration of surgical simulation into osteopathic curricula may help address underrepresentation in surgical residency programs.
• Structured surgical experiences can enhance diversity within surgical specialties and improve access to care.