Require adequately powered studies of skill retention and transfer before recommending major investment in cadaveric simulation¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 2 claims (1 for, 1 mixed) · 1 study (1 quant-synthesis), q3 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The review's forward-looking recommendation is that the field should conduct adequately powered studies demonstrating whether cadaveric-trained skills are retained and transfer to the operating theatre before major investment is recommended. It notes cadaveric simulation "is expensive, and therefore needs to have demonstrable superiority over less expensive alternatives", and that cost and infrastructure demands make rigorous evaluation particularly challenging.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Adequately powered studies measuring skill retention longitudinally and transfer into the live operating theatre

Constraints¶

• Cost and infrastructure demands of cadaveric simulation make such studies particularly challenging

Target Learners¶

• postgraduate surgical trainees

Target Learning Goals¶

• retention and transfer of surgical skills learned in cadaveric simulation

Claims¶

• Cadaveric simulation training is superior to no simulation training for surgical skill acquisition, per three RCTs [+W]
• RCT evidence comparing cadaveric with low-fidelity simulation is mixed: two RCTs favour cadaveric, one shows equivalence, one favours the bench model [~W]

Related Strategies¶

• Strengthen vascular simulation research with modern validity frameworks, longer skill-retention follow-up, cost-effectiveness analysis, and more nontechnical-skills and cadaver models
• Prioritize rigorous RCTs with retention tests and transfer measures before expanding distance simulation programs

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• James, H. K., Chapman, A. W., Pattison, G. T. R., Griffin, D. R. and Fisher, J. D. (2019). Systematic review of the current status of cadaveric simulation for surgical training. The British Journal of Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1002/bjs.11325