title: Comparing the effects of physical practice and mental imagery rehearsal on learning basic surgical skills by medical students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to test the effects of varying the amount of physical practice and mental imagery rehearsal on learning basic surgical procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a sample of 65 second-year medical students, 3 randomized groups received either: (1) 3 sessions of physical practice on suturing a pig's foot; (2) 2 sessions of physical practice and 1 session of mental imagery rehearsal; or (3) 1 session of physical practice and 2 sessions of imagery rehearsal. All participants then performed a surgery on a live rabbit in the operating theater of a veterinary college under approved conditions. Analysis of variance was applied to pre- and post-treatment ratings of surgical performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical practice followed by mental imagery rehearsal was statistically equal to additional physical practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Initial physical practice followed by mental imagery rehearsal may be a cost-effective method of training medical students in learning basic surgical skills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Scott and White Clinic, Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center, College Station, Tex, USA. sanders@medicine.tamu.edu
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sadoski
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bramson
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wiprud
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Walsum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy; D007858:Learning; D023421:Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000193:education; D013552:Swine; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013781:Texas