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Abstract
Background
Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice (RCDP) has gained prominence in recent years as an innovative teaching method in simulation-based training for adult and pediatric emergency medical skills. However, its application in the training of forceps delivery skills among obstetrics and gynecology residents remains unexplored. This study aimed to assess the impact of RCDP in this domain.
Methods
Conducted in March 2021, this randomized controlled study involved 60 second-year obstetrics and gynecology residents undergoing standardized training. Participants were randomly assigned to the RCDP group or the traditional teaching method (TTM) group, each comprising 30 residents. The RCDP group followed the RCDP practice mode, while the TTM group adhered to conventional simulation teaching. Post-training assessment of operational proficiency was conducted immediately and after one year. Independent operational confidence and training satisfaction were evaluated through questionnaire surveys and the Satisfaction with Simulation Experience (SSE) scale. Data analysis utilized SPSS 23.0.
Results
The RCDP group displayed significantly higher immediate post-training forceps operation scores compared to the TTM group (92.00 [range: 90.00–94.00] vs. 88.00 [range: 86.75–92.00]; z = 3.79; p < .001). However, no significant difference emerged in forceps operation scores after one year (86.00 [range: 85.00–88.00] vs. 85.50 [range: 84.00–88.25]; z = 0.54; p = .59). The RCDP group exhibited notable performance improvement over the TTM group (z = 3.49; p < .001). Independent operation confidence showed no significant discrepancy (p > .05). Importantly, the RCDP group reported higher satisfaction scores, particularly in the Debriefing and Reflection subscale (44.00 [range: 43.00–45.00] vs. 41.00 [range: 41.50–43.00]; z = 5.24; p < .001), contributing to an overall superior SSE score (z = 4.74; p < .001).
Conclusions
RCDP exhibits immediate efficacy in elevating forceps delivery skills among residents. However, sustained skill enhancement necessitates innovative approaches, while RCDP’s value lies in tailored feedback and reflection for enriched medical education.
Key Messages
Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice (RCDP) demonstrates immediate effectiveness in enhancing forceps delivery skills among obstetrics and gynecology residents, leading to improved immediate performance, which also increased their satisfaction with the teaching process and operational confidence.
Long-term skill retention through RCDP appears limited, highlighting the importance of ongoing reinforcement to prevent skill decay and maintain proficiency.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to all those who helped us during the writing of this manuscript. Thanks to Graduate Medical Training Department and Clinical Skills Center in Shengjing Hospital for providing data resources. Thanks to all the peer reviewers for their opinions and suggestions.
Authors contributions
XW, ZS, and DZ designed the study and drafted the manuscript. XC, YZ, and YL and designed the statistical analysis plan. TL has participated the training and reviewed and co-authored the manuscript with DZ. All authors take responsibility for the appropriateness of the content. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
Ethical approval
The experimental protocol was established, according to the ethical guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration and was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University (No. 2021PS744K, Date.07/10/2021).
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.