Influence of Hope Theory and Effect of Personal Reflection on Performance of Surgical Skills

A mixed-methods study examined data derived from surgical technology students who participated in two sequential simulation lab practice attempts related to preoperative surgical case management skills. A comparison group and a treatment group performed the same simulation two times and similar data were collected. Additionally, the treatment group was asked to complete the adult trait hope scale at five intervals and complete a structured reflection activity between the two simulation attempts. Results of the study demonstrated that participation in a structured reflection activity between the first and second preoperative surgical case management simulation practice attempts did not have a significant positive impact on the outcome of future surgical case management practice attempts in the surgical simulation lab, that a significant positive correlation exists between the students’ score on the trait hope scale and the score on the second preoperative surgical case management simulation practice attempt and that participation in a structured reflection activity positively impacts learners’ levels of hope. Theoretical frameworks used to develop the reflection intervention are very general and are easily adaptable to other career technical education contexts where simulations are used. In general, results of this study contribute to improvement of simulation activities related to many career technical education learning experiences and specifically to the limited body of information specifically related to development of surgical skills and surgical technology education. Improving outcomes in the surgical simulation lab is expected to lead to improvements in teaching surgical technology theory and practice related to surgical case management skills and increase competency of surgical technology students to manage the operative setting, reduce errors, and increase patient safety. Additionally, it is expected that graduates will be better prepared to successfully complete the Certified Surgical Technologist examination administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, increase graduate employment rates, and increase graduate and employer satisfaction rates.