Abstract

Development of an undergraduate medical student theatre etiquette course

Author(s): C Kellett, K Stirling, R McLeod, J Dent, P Boscainos

A recent infection control review in NHS Tayside commented that medical students who have no formal training in theatre etiquette could pose a significant infection risk to patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. Medical students currently have no formal teaching in scrubbing and gowning for theatre. The students report high levels of stress when they are asked to scrub and gown for theatre.

We have planned to implement a new theatre etiquette course for the medical students in which they learn scrubbing, gowning and gloving for theatre.

The new theatre etiquette course would be added to the end of year 3 student timetable. This would include teaching in small groups to scrub, gown and glove. A video of these skills would be used to provide consistency in teaching.

This paper demonstrates how 160 students can be taught theatre etiquette in one day with minimal resources and staff.