Assessment of technical skills transfer from the bench training model to the human model.
BACKGROUND
This study examines whether technical skills learned on a bench model are transferable to the human cadaver model.


METHODS
Twenty-three first-year residents were randomly assigned to three groups receiving teaching on six procedures. For each procedure, one group received training on a cadaver model, one received training on a bench model, and one learned independently from a prepared text. Following training, all residents were assessed on their ability to perform the six procedures.


RESULTS
Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of training modality for both checklist scores (F(2,44) = 3.49, P <0.05) and global scores (F(2,44) = 7.48, P <0.01). Post-hoc tests indicated that both bench and cadaver training were superior to text learning and that bench and cadaver training were equivalent.


CONCLUSIONS
Training on a bench model transfers well to the human model, suggesting strong potential for transfer to the operating room.
Anastakis
D J
DJ
Department of Surgery and the Centre for Research in Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Regehr
G
G
Reznick
R K
RK
Cusimano
M
M
Murnaghan
J
J
Brown
M
M
Hutchison
C
C
D002102:Cadaver; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011897:Random Allocation