Cleft Palate Surgical Simulator: Improvement in Surgical Trainees' Knowledge and Confidence.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Trainees' experience in cleft surgery is limited due to the high-risk nature of the surgery and centralization of cleft care. Simulations allow trainees to learn complex surgical skills whilst ensuring patient safety. Existing cleft surgical simulators are over-simplified or prohibitively expensive. We developed and tested a high-fidelity yet cost-effective simulator for cleft palate repair. Skeletal elements were obtained through high-resolution scanning of a pathologic specimen, 3D printed and then molded in plastic. Soft tissue components were formed through molding layers of silicone. 26 UK specialty trainees performed a vomerine mucosal flap and intra-velar veloplasty in a one-hour workshop. Pre- and post-simulation questionnaires assessing cleft knowledge and surgical confidence were compared for statistical significance.

Detailed Description
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Background: Trainees' experience in cleft surgery is limited due to the high-risk nature of the surgery and centralization of cleft care. Simulations allow trainees to learn complex surgical skills whilst ensuring patient safety. Existing cleft surgical simulators are over-simplified or prohibitively expensive. We developed and tested a high-fidelity yet cost-effective simulator for cleft palate repair. Methods: Skeletal elements were obtained through high-resolution scanning of a pathologic specimen, 3D printed and then molded in plastic. Soft tissue components were formed through molding layers of silicone. 26 UK specialty trainees performed a vomerine mucosal flap and intra-velar veloplasty in a one-hour workshop. Pre- and post-simulation questionnaires assessing cleft knowledge and surgical confidence were compared for statistical significance.

Official Title
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Educational Impact and Development of a Novel Cleft Palate Surgical Simulator: Improvement in Surgical Trainees' Knowledge and Confidence.

Conditions
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Cleft Palate Lip

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Educational


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Plastic Surgery Training Residents Exclusion Criteria: -
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Surgical Trainees undergoing Cleft Palate Training<br>26 UK specialty trainees performed a vomerine mucosal flap and intra-velar veloplasty in a one-hour workshop. Pre- and post-simulation questionnaires assessing cleft knowledge and surgical confidence were compared for statistical significance. | Other: Educational<br>* Teaching session<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cleft lip palate surgical knowledge | The knowledge questionnaire was a 10-part questionnaire, developed through consensus between a panel of expert cleft surgeons. Answers were marked by a single assessor according to the agreed marking criteria and participants received a score of 0-10 | Day 1 | 
| Cleft lip palate surgical confidence | The confidence questionnaire was a 10-part questionnaire, each scored on a Likert scale of 1-5 that has previously been published and validated for use in cleft palate surgery(Appendix 3).(18) The total score ranged from 10-50, converted by division of 10 to an overall confidence score of 1-5 with 1 being not at all confident to 5 being very confident/at the level of an attending/consultant surgeon | Day 1 |