Virtual Surgical Skills Training in a High School Summer Program.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted components of traditional education with shifts toward virtual platforms. Here, we describe the virtual approach to basic surgical skills training during our high school program in the summers of 2020 and 2021.METHODS: Two 2-week sessions were held via Zoom with 99 students in 2020 and 198 students in 2021. Each student was sent surgical supplies and instruments. Interactive lectures were held each morning and basic surgical skills instruction each afternoon. After the session, survey links were distributed to students to complete an anonymous 37-item questionnaire regarding surgical skills confidence, simulation kit satisfaction, and technical difficulties.RESULTS: Of the 297 students, 270 (90.9%) completed the questionnaire, including 91 (91.9%) in 2020 and 179 (90.4%) in 2021. On a scale of 1 (fair) to 5 (excellent), students in 2020 and 2021 reported similar confidence in instrument handling (4-5: 90.0% vs 86.3%, p=0.38), suturing skin (4-5: 88.9% vs 82.8%, p=0.19), and thoracic aorta suturing (4-5: 73.3% vs 73.6%, p=0.97). Students reported greater confidence in 2020 on knot-tying (4-5: 98.9% vs 87.9%, p=0.002), coronary vessel suturing (4-5: 82.2% vs 65.5%, p<0.001), and valve model suturing (4-5: 68.5% vs 50.3%, p=0.005) than students in 2021. Students had similar satisfaction rates with the program (extremely or somewhat satisfied: 92.3% vs 86.0%, p=0.51) between 2020 and 2021.CONCLUSIONS: Virtual education carries the potential for basic surgical skills training for a more widespread audience with less access to direct surgical education. Further research is needed to optimize teaching finer surgical skills.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2022.07.034

View details for PubMedID 35934065