In a field where precision is paramount, the handedness of surgical trainees poses a significant question: Are left-handed learners at a disadvantage?
A recent study examined the issue, revealing that left-handed novice learners demonstrate comparable suturing proficiency to their right-handed counterparts when taught by right-handed instructors.
However, although the ultimate performance outcomes were similar, left-handed trainees reported significant difficulties with right-handed instruments, indicating a need for customised teaching strategies and tools.
This investigation, conducted with 129 medical students, sheds light on the challenges that left-handed individuals face in a predominantly right-handed environment.
The trial was conducted with students without prior suturing experience and was divided by handedness.
Participants attended a teaching session on simple interrupted suturing with right-handed instruments and were evaluated using a validated 10-item checklist.
Materials used by students in both groups included:
• Silicon suturing pad
• 3-0 Nylon suture
• Needle driver
• Toothed forceps
• Suture scissors
• Sharps container.
Secondary outcomes included satisfaction and were evaluated through subjective questionnaires.
No significant difference in suturing performance was observed among the 129 participants (86 right-handed, 43 left-handed). However, left-handed participants reported subjective difficulties.
They reported difficulty handling the right-handed instruments and expressed that they found it more challenging to learn from right-handed surgeons. Similarly, instructors expressed some difficulty demonstrating to left-handed participants how to manipulate the instruments.
Some instructors believed that showing left-handed participants a video demonstration of a left-handed surgeon performing suturing would be beneficial.
The study found no significant difference in suturing performance between right-handed and left-handed novice learners when a right-handed instructor taught both.
This suggests that handedness does not affect the outcome of basic surgical skills.
To address these challenges, providing hand-matched instruments to surgical trainees and tailoring teaching strategies may help optimise the learning experience of left-handed surgical trainees.
The authors conclude: ‘Our study found no significant difference in suturing performance between right-handed and left-handed novice learners, when both were taught by a right-handed instructor. This suggests that handedness does not affect the outcome of basic surgical skills.
‘However, as evidenced by insights from both trainers and trainees that resonate with previous themes reported in the literature, the learning process may pose additional challenges for left-handed students due to the predominance of right-handed instruments and teaching methods. To address these challenges, providing hand-matched instruments to surgical trainees and tailoring teaching strategies may help and optimise the learning experience of left-handed surgical trainees.’
Further research is warranted to explore additional adaptations that may impact surgical education.
