A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Video Education versus Skill Demonstration: Which is More Effective in Teaching Sterile Surgical Technique?

Stephanie N. Pilieci, University of Alberta; Reid McKibbon, University of Alberta; Benjamin Roth, University of Alberta; Kevin Verhoeff, University of Alberta; Daithi Heffernan, Brown University; Saad Y Salim, University of Alberta; Rachel G. Khadaroo, University of Alberta

Video education has many advantages over traditional education including efficiency, convenience, and individualized learning. Learning sterile surgical technique is imperative for medical students as proper technique helps prevent surgical site infections.

We hypothesized that video education is as effective or superior to traditional skill demonstration in educating first year medical students on sterile surgical technique.

A video series was created to demonstrate sterile surgical technique. A pilot randomized controlled trial was designed to assess which education method best teaches sterile surgical technique: video education or skill demonstration (Figure 1).

First year medical students (n=131) were consented and randomized into two groups: 1) those who attended a skill demonstration session {control group; n=70}, and 2) those who watched the video series {experimental group; n=61}. The control group attended a 90-minute nurse-educator led skill demonstration. Participants then completed a 30-item multiple choice quiz to test their knowledge.

Seven 2-6 minute videos (30 minutes total) were created to educate students on surgical attire, scrubbing, gowning and gloving, and maintaining sterility. On average, each video was viewed 1.6 times, and the videos on surgical attire and maintaining sterility had the most views.

Preliminary quiz results showed significant difference between control (n=49) and experimental (n=46) groups (21.8±0.4 vs 26.6±0.5, p<0.0001, Figure 2).

Video education is superior to skill demonstration in providing medical students with knowledge on sterile surgical technique. In an era of duty hour restrictions and limited resources, video education can augment medical students’ knowledge prior to their operating room experience to ensure that a sterile environment is maintained for patients. The ultimate goal is to reduce surgical site infections.