Surgical Suturing Workshop – HelMSIC Greece

Name of the activity: Surgical Suturing Workshop

Country/NMO: HelMSIC Greece

Program: Teaching Medical Skills

Contact information: contact [email protected] to get in touch with the Activity Coordinator

Type of the activity: Continuous Activity

Category: Education

Focus area: Surgical Skills

Sustainable Development Goals addressed: GOAL 4: QUALITY EDUCATION

General description:

Surgical Skills Workshop is an one day activity that aims to provide medical students knowledge such as skin pathology, local anesthesia application, trauma treatment, 6 basic suturing types, suturing change and removal and suturing skills. Since suturing skills aren’t fully integrated in Greece Medical Schools curricula, there was an attempt to integrate the activity.

Problem statement:

Suturing Skills should be part of Medical Schools’ Curricula. However, Medical Students express the need for systematic and efficient training on such skills. Ιn the last 6 years, more than 3000 Medical Students have been educated on Suturing Skills and consider them necessary for their career despite lacking education in their Universities, according to SSW’s EFs. As a result, they try to cover this deficiency via personal initiatives and not by advocating for a curriculum integration.

Target groups:

Medical students

Beneficiaries:

Medical students, Doctors

Objectives:

Objectives of the first part (theoretical lecture) are:
1.1 To gain knowledge about skin pathology and scarification
1.2 To learn surgical suturing tools management and 6 basic suturing types
1.3 To know of local anesthesia application and patient preparation
1.4 To learn about suturing removal and trauma treatment in order to prevent complications and suture infections

Objectives of the second part (suturing workshop) are:
2.1 To learn how to properly wear sterilized gloves and manage surgical suturing tools
2.2 To practice on knot tying, local anesthesia application and trauma treatment
2.3 To apply the 6 basic suturing types

Indicators of Success:

Success Indicators of the first part (theoretical lecture) are:
1.1 70% of the participants state at the evaluation form that they know about skin pathology and scarification
1.2 70% of the participants state at the evaluation form that they are familiar with surgical suturing tools management and 6 basic suturing types
1.3 70% of the participants state at the evaluation form that they have knowledge of local anesthesia application and patient preparation
1.4 70% of the participants state at the evaluation form that they have knowledge of suturing removal and trauma treatment in order to prevent complications and suture infections

Success Indicators of the second part (suturing workshop) are:
2.1 70% of the participants state at the evaluation form that they know how to properly wear sterilized gloves and manage surgical suturing tools
2.2 70% of the participants state at the evaluation form that they have practiced on knot tying, local anesthesia application and trauma treatment

Methodology:

An one month planning period, when the project proposal was written and the promotion and fundraising plans were decided, was followed by a two months management period. There was a 5 people OC in each LC.

During the first part of the Activity, an interactive lecture is conducted by a Medical Professor concerning topics
During the second part of the Activity, the following methods are used:
● Live demonstration of trauma treatment and preparation for suturing, 6 basic suturing types and knot tying
● Practice on elementary surgical suturing techniques under a trainer’s supervision
● Information and skills acquisition check by the respective trainers
After the activity university clinics were approached aiming for the full integration of the activity in the medical schools’ curricula

Plans for evaluation:

The activity has been evaluated through specifically defined questionnaires on two separate levels:
● Participants Evaluation Forms
● External Partners Evaluation Forms

External collaborations:

Ms. Myrto Papastergiou, ANIMEX-Medical Tools Administrator | logistical support
Faculty Members and Residents of Surgical Departments | Support in lecture’s and workshop’s conduction