Effectiveness of video-assisted, self-directed, and peer-guided learning in the acquisition of surgical skills by veterinary students

Objective To determine the influence of self-directed learning, peer feedback, or expert feedback on suturing technique of novice veterinary student surgeons. Study design Prospective, blinded, video feedback study. Sample population Three groups of surgery naive veterinary students, two groups of 37 students and one group with 36 students. Methods Each student completed three cruciate sutures in SynDaver skin. Student performance was video recorded and scored with a validated pro forma. Students were randomly divided into three groups: (1) students critically evaluated their own performance, (2) students critically evaluated peer's performance, and (3) students received a peer's evaluation. Each student repeated the surgical task and assessed his or her own performance, guided by the pro forma. Each student received a video with individualized feedback from an expert prior to repeating the task. Scores and times were analyzed. Student and expert evaluations were compared. Results Task composite score, time to completion, and completion rate did not differ between groups. Student self-assessed scores did not correlate with expert scores. Forty-three percent and 62% of students stated that self-feedback and peer feedback, respectively, were acceptable forms of learning, and 96% of students felt expert feedback was superior to both. Conclusion Video-based self-evaluation and peer-assisted learning were as effective as expert feedback after didactic lecture in teaching suturing technique to novice veterinary surgeons. Clinical significance Video-based self-evaluation and peer feedback were viable alternative teaching strategies to didactic lecture and expert feedback alone for instructing novice veterinary surgeons.