Background: This study aimed to quantify the impact of intermittent visual occlusion via stroboscopic goggles on suture accuracy and precision.
Methods: This crossover study recruited and randomized 72 graduate students to train with stroboscopic goggles early or late in structured suture practice. Participants completed assessments of 10 running sutures with 2 training sessions between baseline and follow-up assessments. The procedure was repeated after crossover. Suture photos were analyzed using ImageJ. Total error among all measurements represented accuracy; standard deviation of error represented precision. Intra- and inter-group trends were identified with Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.
Results: Both groups significantly improved in accuracy in the sessions immediately following goggle use, but the group that used goggles later in training continued improving in accuracy and precision while the group that trained with stroboscopic goggles early plateaued.
Conclusions: Using stroboscopic goggles showed quantifiable benefit for augmenting suture training with greatest effect after initial skill acquisition is completed.
Keywords: medical education; medical students; stroboscopic goggles; suture training.