Robert McMillan1, Philip N Redlich2, Robert Treat3, Matthew I Goldblatt1, Thomas Carver1, Christopher M Dodgion1, Jacob R Peschman1, Christopher S Davis1, Shahriar Alizadegan1, Jeremy Grushka4, Lisa Olson1, Theresa Krausert1, Brian Lewis2, Michael J Malinowski5. 1. Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. 2. Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA; Division of Surgical Care, Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, 5000 W National Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53295, USA. 3. Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. 4. Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue,L9.424, Montreal, QC, H3G 1A4, Canada. 5. Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA; Division of Surgical Care, Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, 5000 W National Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53295, USA. Electronic address: mmalinowski@mcw.edu.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Many medical schools offer M4 boot camps to improve students' preparedness for surgical residencies. For three consecutive years, we investigated the impact of medical school boot camps on intern knot-tying and suturing skills when measured at the start of residency. METHODS: Forty-two interns completed questionnaires regarding their boot camp experiences. Their performance on knot-tying and suturing exercises was scored by three surgeons blinded to the questionnaire results. A comparison of these scores of interns with or without boot camp experiences was performed and statistical analysis applied. RESULTS: 26 of 42 (62%) interns reported boot camp training. There were no differences in scores between interns with or without a M4 boot camp experience for suturing [9.6(4.6) vs 9.8(4.1), p < 0.908], knot-tying [9.1(3.6) vs 8.4(4.1), p = 0.574], overall performance [2.0(0.6) vs 1.9(0.7), p = 0.424], and quality [2.0(0.6) vs 1.9(0.7), p = 0.665]) (mean(SD)). CONCLUSIONS: We could not demonstrate a statistically significant benefit in knot-tying and suturing skills of students who enrolled in M4 boot camp courses as measured at the start of surgical residency. Published by Elsevier Inc.
INTRODUCTION: Many medical schools offer M4 boot camps to improve students' preparedness for surgical residencies. For three consecutive years, we investigated the impact of medical school boot camps on intern knot-tying and suturing skills when measured at the start of residency. METHODS: Forty-two interns completed questionnaires regarding their boot camp experiences. Their performance on knot-tying and suturing exercises was scored by three surgeons blinded to the questionnaire results. A comparison of these scores of interns with or without boot camp experiences was performed and statistical analysis applied. RESULTS: 26 of 42 (62%) interns reported boot camp training. There were no differences in scores between interns with or without a M4 boot camp experience for suturing [9.6(4.6) vs 9.8(4.1), p < 0.908], knot-tying [9.1(3.6) vs 8.4(4.1), p = 0.574], overall performance [2.0(0.6) vs 1.9(0.7), p = 0.424], and quality [2.0(0.6) vs 1.9(0.7), p = 0.665]) (mean(SD)). CONCLUSIONS: We could not demonstrate a statistically significant benefit in knot-tying and suturing skills of students who enrolled in M4 boot camp courses as measured at the start of surgical residency. Published by Elsevier Inc.