Teaching scalpel skills, does it make sense? A comparison of sensory and motor practice methods

Background Teaching psychomotor skills requiring high levels of dexterity can be difficult, particularly if students lack innate ability. Furthermore this can be a safety issue when real subjects are involved. Previous studies have found sensory awareness training can improve dexterity over the short-term. Therefore it seems prudent to determine if this strategy can provide an effective alternative to current teaching strategies.