MENTAL TRAINING AS A STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPING SUTURING SKILLS IN MEDICAL STUDENTS wjneumannordonez@gmail.com

PE048

MENTAL TRAINING AS A STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPING SUTURING SKILLS IN MEDICAL STUDENTS

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Peru

Oral or Poster

A main drawback for the implementation of simulation strategies in developing countries is the high cost they imply. Mental training is an alternative to traditional simulation techniques. Theoretically, by performing these types of exercises repeatedly, brain changes are fostered, which optimize the execution of motor activities without performing the action physically. This usefulness could be extrapolated to simple procedures taught in undergraduate programs, such as wound suturing.

A pilot project was developed to explore the feasibility of applying mental training techniques to undergraduate medical interns rotating in the General Surgery Service at Lima Este Vitarte Hospital in 2022 and to describe a prototype of training for a specific suturing skill. A workshop on suturing was held, which included a sample mental training session. At the end of the training, each participant provided subjective verbal feedback on the overall experience.

After completing this academic experience, the students expressed satisfaction with the training they received. They reported difficulty creating mental images, mainly due to lack of knowledge and familiarity with the technique. Additionally, they reported a significant improvement in their perception of their own performance after the training. The results of this experience are like those reported in the international literature, leading us to infer that mental training is a tool that can improve both the perception of performance and the procedural skills of undergraduate students.

Mental training could address the need to deepen the development of technical skills and optimize virtual medical education in settings with limited or unavailable resources.