Procedurepalooza: A Reproducible Workshop to Teach Core Procedures to Preclinical Learners

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine Training
• Simulation-Based Learning

Background:

• Preclinical medical education often lacks opportunities for early procedural skills training, leaving students unprepared.
• Simulation-based procedural instruction is effective for residents but less accessible to preclinical learners.
• Procedurepalooza addresses this gap with a scalable, low-cost, hands-on workshop.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce foundational procedural skills to first- and second-year medical students.
• To enhance learner confidence and competence in emergency medicine procedures.
• To provide a reproducible and engaging training model for preclinical medical education.

Main Methods:

• A half-day, multi-station workshop covering six essential procedures: IV placement, suturing, splinting, point-of-care ultrasound, airway management, and ECG interpretation.
• Learners rotated through small-group stations with faculty or resident guidance.
• Pre- and post-event surveys assessed self-reported procedural confidence using a 5-point Likert scale.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements in procedural confidence were observed across all six domains (P < 0.001).
• The largest confidence gains were in intravenous (IV) placement (+1.80) and suturing (+1.68).
• Qualitative feedback highlighted the workshop's accessibility, supportive environment, and value for clinical preparation.

Conclusions:

• Procedurepalooza effectively improved learner confidence in procedural skills using an engaging, reproducible, and low-cost format.
• The workshop's design promotes scalability and sustainability for institutions with limited resources.
• Early procedural exposure may enhance future clinical skill development and interest in emergency medicine.