Left-handedness--a handicap for training in surgery?
Publication/Presentation Date
1-1-2010
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Left-handedness was historically considered a disability and a social stigma, and teachers would make efforts to suppress it in their students. Little data are available on the impact of left-handedness on surgical training. This report reviews available data on this subject.
METHODS: We did systematic electronic and manual literature searches using a predetermined strategy independently by 2 investigators, 1 left- and 1 right-handed, to identify reports on surgical training and left-handedness.
RESULTS: The review revealed 19 studies on the subject of left-handedness and surgical training. Data were heterogeneous and based mostly on surveys. Left-handedness produced anxiety in residents and their trainers. There was a lack of mentoring on laterality. Surgical instruments, both conventional and laparoscopic, are not adapted to left-handed use and require ambilaterality training from the resident. There is significant pressure to change hand laterality during training. However, left-handedness might present an advantage in operations involving situs inversus or left lower limb operations.
CONCLUSIONS: Left-handedness is a challenge both for the trainee and the trainer in surgery. Early laterality-related mentoring in medical school and during surgical residency with provision of left-handed instruments might reduce the inconveniences of left-handed surgeons learning.
Volume
67
Issue
4
First Page
233
Last Page
236
ISSN
1878-7452
Published In/Presented At
Tchantchaleishvili, V., & Myers, P. O. (2010). Left-handedness--a handicap for training in surgery?. Journal of surgical education, 67(4), 233–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2010.06.001
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
20816359
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article