Maia Anderson1, Erica Carballo2, David Hughes3, Christopher Behrer4, Rishindra M Reddy5. 1. University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address: maiaand@med.umich.edu. 2. University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address: evcarbal@med.umich.edu. 3. 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. 4. Harvard University Extension School, Cambridge, MA, USA. Electronic address: cbehrer@gmail.com. 5. 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.
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.
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: Ira L Savetsky; Michael J Cammarata; Rami S Kantar; J Rodrigo Diaz-Siso; Yash J Avashia; Rod J Rohrich; Pierre B Saadeh Journal: Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open Date: 2020-05-21