title: Teaching suturing in a workshop setting: a comparison of several models.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Suturing is taught in workshops using a variety of models. The purpose of this study is to compare the resemblance to human skin of four models commonly used to teach suturing: pig skin, beef tongue, hot dog and latex glove.
  
  
  METHODS
  5 centimeter biconvex incisions were made in each of the models and closed by 50 physician study volunteers comprised of 33 board-certified physicians and 17 resident physicians. They rated each model on a scale of 1 to 4, where 4 closely resembles human skin and 1 does not resemble human skin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following mean ratings were given by study volunteers: beef tongue 3.5 +/- 0.5, pig skin 3.2 +/- 0.8, latex glove 1.6 +/- 0.7, hot dog 1.4 +/- 0.6.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Beef tongue and pig skin were rated highest by study volunteers. However, pig skin is much cheaper than beef tongue. Pig skin is the best inexpensive model for teaching skin suturing of the four models studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
authors.forename: Keith G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Tokuhara
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Boldt
authors.forename: Loren G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000379:methods*; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D023421:Models, Animal; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000193:education*; D013552:Swine; D013663:Teaching