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Manikin-Head-Based Demonstration Improves Suture Proficiency in Dental Residents
Xiao-Heng Zhao1,2, Yao Xiao1,2, Wei Zhang1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Manikin-head simulator training significantly improved dental residents' intraoral suturing skills and confidence. This preclinical approach enhances proficiency, addressing gaps before clinical practice in China's Standardized Residency Training (SRT) program.
Area of Science:
- Dental Education
- Surgical Skills Training
- Medical Simulation
Background:
- Preclinical training is crucial for dental residents to bridge the gap between academic learning and clinical practice.
- Traditional methods may not adequately prepare residents for the complexities of intraoral suturing.
- China's Standardized Residency Training (SRT) program seeks to standardize and improve postgraduate dental education.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of manikin-head simulator-based demonstration training for intraoral suturing.
- To assess improvements in suturing proficiency among dental residents.
- To understand residents' perspectives on preclinical training within China's SRT program.
Main Methods:
- Eighteen dental residents participated in a training program involving theoretical instruction and hands-on practice with a manikin-head simulator.
- Suturing techniques were demonstrated, followed by resident practice and replication.
- Objective measures included completion time and suture quality assessed by a validated rubric.
- Subjective feedback was gathered through questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Significant reduction in operational time (23.99 to 14.54 min) and improvement in suture quality scores (21.22 to 29.67) were observed (p < 0.001).
- Junior residents showed greater score improvements, while seniors maintained higher baseline efficiency.
- Participants reported increased suturing speed, instrument proficiency, and confidence, aligning with objective findings.
Conclusions:
- Manikin-head simulator training effectively enhances simulated intraoral suturing performance and self-reported confidence in dental residents.
- This scalable and cost-effective method addresses preclinical skill gaps in China's SRT program.
- Improved preclinical training can contribute to better patient safety and clinical outcomes.