Advances in Health Sciences Education (2007) 12:331–344 DOI 10.1007/s10459-006-9005-7
Ó Springer 2006
Tensiometry as a Measure of Improvement in Knot Quality in Undergraduate Medical Students J. KYLE LEMING1, KATIE DORMAN2, RYAN BRYDGES2, HEATHER CARNAHAN1 and ADAM DUBROWSKI2,* 1
Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; 2Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (*author for correspondence, Phone: 416-340-4194; Fax: 416-340-3792; E-mail:
[email protected]) (Received 24 October 2005; accepted 10 March 2006)
Abstract. Introduction: This study examined the validity of tensiometry as an objective method of assessing the improvements in the quality of knots and technical performance due to practice on suturing and knot-tying skills. Methods: We evaluated the quality of 1,830 knots produced by undergraduate medical students before training (pre-test), after (post-test), and after a week retention (retention-test) using tensiometry. These results were compared to expert-based assessments of products and performance. Results: Tensiometry, as well as expert-based assessments can detect changes in the quality of knots and technical performance from pre to post and retention-test ( p