EP 027 Bridging the Gap: A Hands-On Suturing Workshop for Medical Students to Enhance Surgical Skills Training
Omar Abdelmohsin, John DicksonAbstract
Introduction
This hands-on suturing workshop addresses a critical gap in medical education by providing essential surgical skills training to medical students during their clinical rotations. With limited practical exposure in the standard curriculum and high costs for postgraduate courses, many students feel underprepared. Our initiative, which gathered over 100 survey responses, significantly improved student confidence and competence in basic suturing techniques, as shown by pre- and post-session surveys.
Background
Formal surgical skills training is often limited in undergraduate medical curricula, leaving students with minimal hands-on exposure to basic surgical tasks. Many students seek costly external courses post-graduation to fill this gap.
Method
The workshop was implemented for medical students at two medical schools, delivered either as weekly sessions during clinical rotations or as full-day intensive workshops. It covered suturing techniques, instrument handling, and basic skills, facilitated by surgical trainees and consultants. Pre- and post-workshop surveys assessed students' self-reported confidence and competence, with over 100 responses collected. Data were analyzed to evaluate the workshop’s impact and identify barriers to surgical training.
Findings
Pre-workshop surveys indicated a lack of confidence in surgical skills. Post-workshop data showed significant improvement in students’ confidence and understanding of suturing techniques. Feedback revealed limited core curriculum exposure to surgical skills and the financial burden of pursuing independent training.
Conclusion
Integrating hands-on surgical skills workshops into undergraduate medical education addresses a critical training gap, enhancing student competence, reducing reliance on costly postgraduate courses, and improving future doctors’ clinical readiness.