Preparing Medical Students for the Operating Theatre Using Video-Based Learning

The complexities of the operating theatre present barriers to learning, particularly for medical students. Enhanced preparation, focusing on the expectations, behaviours and environment of the operating theatre, is essential to ensure students feel confident when attending. Traditional teaching modalities are often limited by resources required, highlighting the need for an engaging, standardised, and resource-efficient approach.

Multiple video-based modalities were leveraged: (1) a brief educational video showcasing appropriate and examples of inappropriate theatre attire, (2) a 360° tour of a typical operating theatre at our institution and (3) Shadowbox simulation videos depicting frequent challenges students face in this environment. A 60-min session was embedded within the existing induction programme for early clinical year students. Students interacted with each video, with interactive polling and quizzes used to reinforce key learning points.

Students rated the session as enjoyable and relevant to their learning. Across a number of domains, self-perceived preparedness significantly improved after the session. Qualitative analysis revealed that following the session, students' intended future behaviours in the operating theatre included engaging with preoperative practices, being primed for active participation and seeking learning opportunities beyond the operating theatre.

The model is low-cost, easily updated, and transferable across institutions, supporting scalability and sustainability in diverse educational settings. The next phase will focus on evaluating the longitudinal impact of this intervention on student experiences during clinical placements and developing video-based resources to guide students through the process of surgical hand preparation and gowning.