Expert-led and artificial intelligence (AI) system-assisted tutoring course increase confidence of Chinese medical interns on suturing and ligature skills: prospective pilot study

Purpose: Lack of confidence in suturing/ligature skills due to insufficient practices and assessments was common among novice Chinese medical interns. This study aims to improve the skill acquisition of medical interns with new interventional program. Methods: In addition to regular clinical training, additional expert-led or expert-led plus artificial intelligent (AI) system tutoring courses were implemented during the first 2 week of surgical block in our hospital. Interns can voluntarily join the regular (no additional tutoring), expert-led tutoring or expert-led+Al tutoring groups freely. In regular group, interns (n=25) did not join additional tutoring. The expert-led group received 3-hour expert-led tutoring and in-training formative assessment after twice practices. After similar expert-led course as expert-led group, the expert-led+Al group (n=23) practice and assess their skills on the AI system. Through the comparison with the internal standard, the system automatically recorded and evaluated every intern's suturing/ligature skills. Among expert-led+Al group, the performance and confidence were compared between interns whose doing one, two and three times of AI practices. Results: The end-of-surgical block OSCE' performance and self-assessed confidence for the suturing/ligature skills were highest in expert-led+Al group. In comparison with expert-led group, with similar performance in in-training assessment, expert-led+Al group have higher degree of improvement in their performance in end-of surgical block OSCE. Especially, in expert-led+Al group, the best performance and highest post-OSCE confidence were noted among trice AI practicing group. Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrated the promising effects of incorporation of additional expert-led plus Al system-assisted tutoring course into regular surgical curriculum.