EVALUATION OF A LOW-COST SIMULATION MODEL FOR TEACHING VASCULAR HEMOSTASIS AND ANASTOMOSIS ACROSS SURGICAL SPECIALTIES swechhabhatt48@gmail.com

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EVALUATION OF A LOW-COST SIMULATION MODEL FOR TEACHING VASCULAR HEMOSTASIS AND ANASTOMOSIS ACROSS SURGICAL SPECIALTIES

3

Nepal

Oral or Poster

Simulation-based training plays a vital role in surgical education, offering a safe and effective platform for developing technical skills. However, access to high-fidelity simulation models is often limited in resource-constrained settings. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of a low-cost simulation model designed to teach vascular hemostasis and anastomosis techniques among postgraduate trainees and junior doctors from diverse surgical specialties.

A total of 38 participants from various specialties—Obstetrics and Gynecology (26.3%), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (18.4%), Orthopedics (18.4%), ENT–Head and Neck Surgery (15.8%), among others—were trained using the model. Post-training, participants completed a questionnaire assessing five domains: realism, anastomosis suitability, hemostasis suitability, confidence boost, and willingness to recommend the model. Responses were rated on a 5-point Likert scale.

The model was positively received. Realism scored a mean of 3.61 ± 0.82, with 44.7% rating it neutral. Anastomosis suitability had the highest rating (mean 4.29 ± 0.61), with 92.1% agreeing or strongly agreeing. Hemostasis suitability scored 3.92 ± 0.63, with 76.3% expressing agreement. Confidence boost had a mean of 4.08 ± 0.43, with 94.8% noting improved confidence. A total of 92.2% participants agreed or strongly agreed they would recommend the model (mean 4.13 ± 0.53).

The low-cost simulation model was effective in teaching vascular skills across multiple specialties. While realism ratings were moderate, high scores in skill-specific domains and confidence building suggest strong educational value. This model offers a promising, accessible training tool for surgical education in low-resource settings.