Number
120
Name
Dexterity Development and Survey-Based Predictors of Aptitude from Pre-Clerkship to Surgery Clerkship
Date & Time
Sunday, June 7, 2026, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Location Name
Oglethorpe Ballroom
Speakers
Authors
Brittany Ange, Augusta University
Bao-Ling Adam, Augusta University
Ahmet Guven, Augusta University
William Jordan, Augusta University
Presentation Topic(s)
Assessment
Description
Purpose:
Innate dexterity may improve performance in procedural specialties. To
evaluate early dexterity development in medical training, students complete
the O’Connor Tweezer Dexterity Assessment (OCTDA) at the end of pre-clerkship
training and during surgery clerkship. This study examined (1) pre- to
post-clerkship changes in dexterity performance, (2) differences among
students involved in a surgery interest group or video game use.
Methods:
Students who completed both assessments and at least one survey were
included (N=36). Each completed dominant- and nondominant-hand versions of
the OCTDA. Pre-post changes were analyzed using paired t-tests, and
improvement scores were calculated for each hand. Group differences (e.g.,
video games, musical instruments, sports, gender, ethnicity, and interest
group participation) were assessed using t-tests or ANOVA. Associations with
Likert-type ratings (e.g., specialty interest, self-rated dexterity) were
evaluated using Spearman correlations. Pearson correlation assessed whether
improvement in the dominant hand corresponded to improvement in the
non-dominant hand.
Results:
Dexterity improved significantly from pre-post for both the dominant-
(–40.9 sec; p=0.0023) and nondominant-hand (–36.5 sec; p=0.0041), reflecting
moderate effect sizes (d=0.56 and d=0.53). Improvement scores between hands
were not correlated (r=0.15, p=0.40). No significant differences at either
time point were observed by video game use, musical instrument use, sports
participation, or ethnicity. At pre-clerkship, females completed the test
faster than males (343 (52) vs. 400 (57) sec, p=0.0037), but this difference
was not found during clerkship. No significant correlations were found
between dexterity scores and specialty interest or self-rated dexterity.
Conclusions:
Students showed clear improvements in dexterity during surgery clerkship,
suggesting that hands-on clinical work may support early skill development.
These gains did not differ by video gaming, interest group membership, or
clerkship timing. Overall, clerkships appear to contribute to early technical
skill growth, but additional research is needed to understand what
characteristics or experiences drive dexterity growth.
Innate dexterity may improve performance in procedural specialties. To
evaluate early dexterity development in medical training, students complete
the O’Connor Tweezer Dexterity Assessment (OCTDA) at the end of pre-clerkship
training and during surgery clerkship. This study examined (1) pre- to
post-clerkship changes in dexterity performance, (2) differences among
students involved in a surgery interest group or video game use.
Methods:
Students who completed both assessments and at least one survey were
included (N=36). Each completed dominant- and nondominant-hand versions of
the OCTDA. Pre-post changes were analyzed using paired t-tests, and
improvement scores were calculated for each hand. Group differences (e.g.,
video games, musical instruments, sports, gender, ethnicity, and interest
group participation) were assessed using t-tests or ANOVA. Associations with
Likert-type ratings (e.g., specialty interest, self-rated dexterity) were
evaluated using Spearman correlations. Pearson correlation assessed whether
improvement in the dominant hand corresponded to improvement in the
non-dominant hand.
Results:
Dexterity improved significantly from pre-post for both the dominant-
(–40.9 sec; p=0.0023) and nondominant-hand (–36.5 sec; p=0.0041), reflecting
moderate effect sizes (d=0.56 and d=0.53). Improvement scores between hands
were not correlated (r=0.15, p=0.40). No significant differences at either
time point were observed by video game use, musical instrument use, sports
participation, or ethnicity. At pre-clerkship, females completed the test
faster than males (343 (52) vs. 400 (57) sec, p=0.0037), but this difference
was not found during clerkship. No significant correlations were found
between dexterity scores and specialty interest or self-rated dexterity.
Conclusions:
Students showed clear improvements in dexterity during surgery clerkship,
suggesting that hands-on clinical work may support early skill development.
These gains did not differ by video gaming, interest group membership, or
clerkship timing. Overall, clerkships appear to contribute to early technical
skill growth, but additional research is needed to understand what
characteristics or experiences drive dexterity growth.