Deliberate Practice With Validated Metrics Improves Skills Acquisition

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of deliberate vs. self-guided practices on acquiring needling skills by novice learners. Methods: Eighteen medical students were randomized to deliberate or self-guided practices groups. Following a learning phase, subjects attempted to perform a predefined task, which entitled advancing a needle towards a target on a phantom gel under ultrasound guidance. Subsequently, all subjects practiced performing the task using previously validated metrics. Subjects in the deliberate practice group were coached by an expert anesthesiologist and practiced each metric until it was satisfactorily performed based on the supervising anesthesiologist assessment. Immediately after completing the practice, all subjects attempted to perform same task, and on the following day, made two further attempts in succession. Two trained consultant anesthesiologists will use the metrics to independently score the video-recorded performances.