Exploring the Merit of Simulation-Based Education: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background The drive to improve surgical proficiency through advanced simulation-based training has gained momentum. This meta-analysis systematically evaluates evidence regarding the impact of plastic surgery-related simulation on residents‘ performance. Methods A systematic review of PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library was performed following PRISMA protocol. An inverse-variance random-effects model to combine study estimates was utilized to account for between-study variability. Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) scores and subjective confidence scores were used to assess the impact of the simulation with positive changes from baseline indicating better outcomes. Results Eighteen studies pooling 367 trainees who participated in various simulations were included. Completion of simulation training was associated with significant improvement in subjective confidence scores with a mean increase of 1.44 units (95% CI: 0.93 to 1.94, P < 0.001) and in OSATS scores, with a mean increase of 1.24 units (95% CI: 0.87 to 1.62, P < 0.001), both on a 1-to-5 scale. Participants reported high satisfaction scores (mean = 4.76 units, 95% CI = 4.61 to 4.91, P = 0.006), also on a 1-to-5 scale. Conclusion Participation in surgical simulation markedly improves both objective and subjective scoring metrics for surgical trainees. A variety of simulation devices are available for honing surgical skills, with the potential for more advancements to come. Because the evidence demonstrates their effectiveness, incorporating simulation into training should be a priority for the field of plastic surgery.