cad:trauma study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does Learning to Perform Surgery on Cadavers Lead to Better Surgeons and Safer Patients?
IRAS ID
190257
Contact name
Hannah James
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
20431944, ISCRTN
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 5 days
Research summary
Why is this research important?
Due to changes in working regulations, today’s trainee surgeons will have had far fewer hours of experience in the operating theatre by the time they become consultants than in the past. There has been a change in the training culture in the modern NHS and it is now considered unacceptable to allow young surgeons to ‘practice’ operations for the first time on real patients.
One way of overcoming this problem is by using simulated surgery. Much in the same way as pilots learn to fly aeroplanes using a flight simulator before doing it for real, surgeons can first learn to do operations using simulation. One of the most promising simulation opportunities for learning surgery is found in using donated, deceased human bodies (‘cadavers’).
A recent change in the law has allowed human cadavers to be used for training surgeons in the UK for the first time in history. We don’t yet know whether this type of training will help young surgeons to learn operations more quickly and to a higher standard. Research is needed in-order for the NHS and medical schools to spend public money providing simulation-training facilities across the UK.What are the aims of this research?
The study aims to measure the learning of junior surgeons-in-training as they perform their first few operations. We will investigate whether doing a new training course using cadavers enhances this 'learning curve'.
Who/Where?
Surgeons-in-training who are in their 3rd-5th year of training in the West Midlands area will be invited to participate.
How?
Participants will be randomly allocated to receive the intensive training course, or not. Their technical skill during operations will be assessed over the follow up period to see if the course changes workplace performance.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0464
Date of REC Opinion
22 Dec 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion