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Implementation of Plastic and Reconstructive Suture Skills Workshops for Medical Students at OSUCOM
Shuchi Sharma, Juhi Katta, Bryce P.G. Dzubara, Nojan Bajestan, Stephanie Paras, Eric Min, Cristiane Ueno MD
Ohio State University College of Medicine
2023-02-10
Presenter: Shuchi Sharma
Affidavit:
Dr. Cristiane Ueno
Director Name: Cristian Ueno
Author Category: Medical Student
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: General Reconstruction
Early medical student exposure via mentorship and research programs in surgical subspecialties has been shown to increase medical student interest, involvement in the specialty, and research. Plastic Surgery is a competitive field; therefore, early exposure to the field is important for a successful match. To analyze medical student interest in pursuing plastic surgery and improve exposure to the field, we created a suture skills workshop with instructional videos and one-on-one feedback from plastic surgery faculty and residents. We measured change in knowledge and interest in plastic surgery and suturing on a Likert scale from 1 to 5 with pre- and post-surveys. The workshop showed an average increase of 0.1 points in interest in plastic surgery with p-value of 0.3. Confidence in students' suturing skills increased by a statistically significant 1 point on average, with the greatest increase in the deep dermal stitch. Through the workshop, we were able to positively impact students' perception of the field, early exposure to residents and faculty, and technical ability. Thus, the implementation of consistent workshops and plastic surgery faculty and resident engagement with students can greatly propel and prepare students to match and excel in plastic surgery. Going forward, we will track students' participation in plastic surgery research and residency application and match rates to determine the long-term effectiveness of these workshops.
