title: Practice improves performance on a coronary anastomosis simulator, attending surgeon supervision does not.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Enthusiasm for simulation early in cardiothoracic surgery training is growing, yet evidence demonstrating its utility is limited. We examined the effect of supervised and unsupervised training on coronary anastomosis performance in a randomized trial among medical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five medical students were recruited for this single-blinded, randomized controlled trial using a low-fidelity simulator. After viewing an instructional video, all participants attempted an anastomosis. Subsequently, the participants were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: control (n = 15), unsupervised training (n = 15), or supervised training with a cardiothoracic surgeon or fellow (n = 15). Both the supervised and unsupervised groups practiced for 1 hour per week. After 4 weeks, the participants repeated the anastomosis. All pre- and posttraining performances were videotaped and rated independently by 3 cardiothoracic surgeons blinded to the randomization. All raters scored 13 assessment items on a 1 to 5 (low-high) scale along with an overall pass/fail rating.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the training period, all 3 groups showed significant improvements in composite scores (control: +0.52 ± 0.69 [P = .014], unsupervised: +1.05 ± 0.48 [P < .001], and supervised: +1.10 ± 0.84 [P < .001]). Compared with control group, both supervised (P = .005) and unsupervised trainees (P = .005) demonstrated a significant improvement. Between the supervised and unsupervised groups there were no statistically significant differences in composite scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practice on low-fidelity simulators enabled trainees to improve on a broad range of skills; however, the additional effect of attending-level supervision is limited. In an era of increasing staff surgeon responsibilities, unsupervised practice may be sufficient for inexperienced trainees.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute of Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill. Electronic address: denter@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Enter
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute of Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill.
authors.forename: Xiaoying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: Center for Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Mo.
authors.forename: Dawn S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute of Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill.
authors.forename: Adin-Cristian
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Andrei
authors.affiliation: Center for Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Mo.
authors.forename: Hendrick B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Barner
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute of Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sheen
authors.affiliation: Center for Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Mo.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000601:surgery*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059032:Learning Curve; D008297:Male; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009048:Motor Skills; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013337:Students, Medical; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult