title: Comparing three pedagogical approaches to psychomotor skills acquisition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We compared traditional pedagogical approaches such as time- and repetition-based methods with proficiency-based training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laparoscopic novices were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 training conditions. In experiment 1, participants in the time condition practiced for 60 minutes, participants in the repetition condition performed 5 practice trials, and participants in the proficiency condition trained until reaching a predetermined proficiency goal. In experiment 2, practice time and number of trials were equated across conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In experiment 1, participants in the proficiency-based training conditions outperformed participants in the other 2 conditions (P < .014); however, these participants trained longer (P < .001) and performed more repetitions (P < .001). In experiment 2, despite training for similar amounts of time and number of repetitions, participants in the proficiency condition outperformed their counterparts (P < .038). In both experiments, the standard deviations for the proficiency condition were smaller than the other conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Proficiency-based training results in trainees who perform uniformly and at a higher level than traditional training methodologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, Mail Code 7737, TX 78229, USA. willisr@uthscsa.edu
authors.forename: Ross E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richa
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oppeltz
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Kent R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Van Sickle
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Dent
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000379:methods*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000193:education*; D008297:Male; D017145:Models, Educational; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors