Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40084171›Full record

ArticleSurgery open science2025

Handedness in surgical education: Evaluating suturing proficiency among left- and right-handed trainees.

Elio R Bitar, Joelle Hassanieh, Salim Rahhal, Batoul Zaiter, Ahmad Zaghal

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Surgery open science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Elio R BitarDivision of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Joelle HassaniehDivision of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Salim RahhalDivision of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Batoul ZaiterDivision of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Ahmad ZaghalDivision of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Left-handedness is often perceived as a disadvantage in surgical training due to the predominance of right-handed instruments and right-handed mentors. Whether this affects the performance of left-handed trainees remains unclear. This study aims to compare the suturing proficiency of left-handed and right-handed novice learners when taught by right-handed instructors using right-handed tools. Methods: A prospective, non-randomized, non-inferiority trial was conducted among students without prior suturing experience, divided by handedness. Participants underwent a teaching session on simple interrupted suturing using right-handed instruments and were assessed using a validated ten-item checklist. Secondary outcomes included satisfaction and were assessed via subjective questionnaires. Results: Among 129 participants (86 right-handed, 43 left-handed), no significant difference in suturing performance was observed between groups. However, left-handed participants reported subjective difficulties using right-handed instruments, and instructors noted challenges teaching them. Conclusion: Handedness does not impact the final outcome of basic surgical skills teaching. However, left-handed students may perceive more challenges due to right-handed tools and techniques. Tailoring teaching strategies and providing hand-specific tools may improve their learning experience.

Identifiers

PMID40084171
PMCPMC11905889

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.