title: Challenges training left-handed surgeons.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Being left-handed (LH) is considered a disadvantage in surgical training. We sought to understand the perspectives of LH trainees and surgical educators on the challenges and modifications in training LH surgeons.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was distributed to surgeons, surgical residents, and medical students about challenges teaching and learning surgical technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  25 LH surgeons, 65 right-handed (RH) surgeons, and 39 LH trainees completed the survey. Compared to LH surgeons, RH surgeons reported more difficulty (46% vs 16%, p = 0.003) and less comfort teaching LH trainees (28% vs 4%, p = 0.002), and 10 (15%) reported that LH trainees have less technical ability. RH surgeons identified challenges translating technique to LH trainees and physical limitations of an environment optimized for right-handed mechanics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The disadvantage LH surgical trainees face is due to barriers in training rather than inherent lesser ability. Nonetheless, minimal modifications are made to overcome these barriers.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address: maiaand@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Maia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address: evcarbal@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carballo
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address: davhughe@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Harvard University Extension School, Cambridge, MA, USA. Electronic address: cbehrer@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Behrer
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address: reddyrm@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Rishindra M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000193:education*
keywords: Left-handedness; Surgical education; Technical training