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. 2023;2(1):19.
doi: 10.1007/s44217-023-00041-2. Epub 2023 Jul 17.

The exploration of remote simulation strategies for the acquisition of psychomotor skills in medicine: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Natasha Guérard-Poirier  1 , Léamarie Meloche-Dumas  2 , Michèle Beniey  2 , Andrei Torres  3 , Bill Kapralos  4 , Malek Dhane  1 , Frédéric Mercier  5 , Rami Younan  5 , Adam Dubrowski  4 , Erica Patocskai  5
Affiliations

The exploration of remote simulation strategies for the acquisition of psychomotor skills in medicine: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Natasha Guérard-Poirier et al. Discov Educ. 2023.

Abstract

Background: Progress in remote educational strategies was fueled by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. This pilot RCT explored the efficacy of a decentralized model of simulation based on principles of observational and peer-to-peer learning for the acquisition of surgical skills.

Methods: Sixty medical students from the University of Montreal learned the running subcuticular suture in four different conditions: (1) Control group (2) Self-learning (3) Peer-learning (4) Peer-learning with expert feedback. The control group learned with error-free videos, while the others, through videos illustrating strategic sub-optimal performances to be identified and discussed by students. Performance on a simulator at the end of the learning period, was assessed by an expert using a global rating scale (GRS) and checklist (CL).

Results: Students engaging in peer-to-peer learning strategies outperformed students who learned alone. The presence of an expert, and passive vs active observational learning strategies did not impact performance.

Conclusion: This study supports the efficacy of a remote learning strategy and demonstrates how collaborative discourse optimizes the students' acquisition of surgical skills. These remote simulation strategies create the potential for implantation in future medical curriculum design.Trial Registration: NCT04425499 2020-05-06.

Keywords: Decentralized simulation; Peer learning; Simulation in surgery; Subcuticular sutures; Surgical education.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
This figure illustrates a screen capture for the a log in page and b working space for the GEN learning management system used by the participants to learn the skills
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
This figure illustrates the material that comprised the suturing kit the students received by mail, as a home-based simulator
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
This figure demonstrates the study design
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
This figure shows the algorithm used for the statistical analysis in phase 1. Initially, a mixed-design ANOVA was used to test for main effects (ME) and interaction between group and test. If the interaction was found significant, we employed a set of tests of simple main effects in the form of a separate one-way ANOVAs for pre- and post-tests. For the significant one-way ANOVAs, we employed Tukey HSD test to test for group differences
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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