Randomized double-blinded trial investigating the impact of a curriculum focused on error recognition on laparoscopic suturing training.
BACKGROUND
Error recognition predicts technical skill. A curriculum including error recognition may improve laparoscopic suturing performance.


METHODS
Thirty novices were randomized into 2 groups. Each viewed an instruction videotape and underwent timed objective structured assessments of technical skills. Group A practiced the task, group B viewed an error-instruction video, practiced, followed by re-assessment. Participants counted errors on a videotape. Data were analyzed with the Fisher exact text, the Wilcoxon test, and the Kendall tau test.


RESULTS
The improvement in task time was greater in group A than in group B (P < .001). The objective structured assessments of technical skills scores improved for both groups, but did not reveal differences between the groups. Group B recognized significantly more errors than group A (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The additional error instruction showed a negative impact on performance speed, but improved cognitive error recognition. Whether visual memory overload influenced the outcome requires further examination.
Bingener
Juliane
J
Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., MC 7842, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
Boyd
Tanner
T
Van Sickle
Kent
K
Jung
Inkyung
I
Saha
Arup
A
Winston
John
J
Lopez
Peter
P
Ojeda
Herminio
H
Schwesinger
Wayne
W
Anastakis
Dimitri
D
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors; D011336:Probability; D013337:Students, Medical; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000193:education*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014741:Video Recording