Integrating anatomy with surgery through basic suturing skills workshops: A pilot study at the University of Rwanda

Background Early exposure to surgical skills is essential for developing competence and confidence among undergraduate medical students. However, in low-resource settings, opportunities for structured, hands-on skills training are often limited. Integrating basic surgical skills with anatomy education using low-cost simulation models may offer a feasible approach to addressing this gap. Methods This pilot feasibility study evaluated a one-day basic surgical skills workshop delivered as a pre-conference activity during the Fourth Annual Anatomy Congress in Rwanda. Twenty undergraduate medical students from preclinical and clinical levels were purposively selected. Participants received pre-training instructional materials followed by supervised hands-on sessions on instrument handling, knot tying, and suturing using improvised models, including shoelaces, foam mattresses, and fresh porcine skin. Pre- and post-workshop surveys assessed knowledge, self-reported confidence, and perceived educational value. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially, with statistical significance set at P  ≤ 0.05. Results Participants were 75% male and 25% female. Most participants (70%) had no prior surgical skills training. While post-workshop knowledge scores increased, the change was not statistically significant ( P  ≥ 0.05). In contrast, self-reported confidence in instrument handling, knot tying, and suturing increased significantly ( P  ≤ 0.05). Application of skills on porcine skin was rated as the most beneficial component (55%), and 95% of participants rated the workshop as very or extremely effective. Conclusion This pilot study demonstrates that a low-cost, anatomy-integrated surgical skills workshop is feasible and highly acceptable to undergraduate medical students in a low-resource setting.