Medical Students' Experiences With an Integrated Surgical Suturing Training Module Using Simulation Models and...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Digital Learning Technologies

Background:

• Digital educational resources like videos and simulations are vital for undergraduate medical procedural skills training.
• Limited qualitative data exists on integrating these resources in real-world, time-constrained surgical internships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore medical students' and instructors' experiences with a combined asynchronous video and simulation module for suturing skills.
• To understand the pedagogical integration of digital tools in surgical internship training.

Main Methods:

• An interpretive qualitative study involving 20 sixth-year medical students and 1 instructor during a surgical internship in Chile.
• Data collected via focus groups and semistructured interviews, analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.
• The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge framework guided interpretation.

Main Results:

• Asynchronous videos facilitated self-paced preparation, enhancing readiness for hands-on practice.
• Integration improved focus on technical execution during supervised sessions, boosting confidence.
• Logistical constraints like limited time and environmental challenges were noted, alongside some technique uncertainty.

Conclusions:

• The integrated approach is a coherent strategy supporting procedural training in demanding clinical settings.
• Asynchronous resources act as preparatory scaffolding, optimizing supervised training time.
• Findings support curriculum integration of digital and simulation methods, emphasizing careful implementation.