Ambidexterity in left-handed and right-handed individuals and implications for surgical training

Lombana, Nicholas F.; Naeger, Patrick A.; Padilla, Pablo L.; Falola, Reuben; Cole, Eric L.

doi:10.1080/08998280.2021.2008585

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…36 One study compared 50 right-and 50 left-handers using the O'Connor tweezer dexterity test. 37 This compared the time taken to complete a task using both hands sequentially, and showed that left-handers performed significantly better and had a greater degree of ambidexterity than right-handers (97.2 vs 71.6 per cent congruity). The authors' summary that 'these results suggest that any perceived difference between left-handed and right-handed surgical residents may not be due to innate skill or dexterity, but rather a combination of external influences' rings true to what we have summarised so far in this review.…”

Section: Medical Training and Handednessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laterality and otorhinolaryngology: a review

Lancer,

Drake-Lee

2023

J. Laryngol. Otol.

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Background Laterality of paired organs involves the function of the eyes, ears, hands and feet. Whilst most people have a right-handed preference, about 10 per cent are left-handed. Similarly, the right eye is usually preferred to the left. Medicine is both taught and practised for those with right hand and eye preference, and left-handed medical students and doctors must negotiate the right-handed world. Objective This brief review looks at society's attitudes, medical training and the practice of otolaryngology in the UK towards laterality and handedness. Method Literature review. Results Studies suggest that left-handers are more versatile and so are more ambidextrous. Conversely, this may result in problems when a right-hander tries to undertake a procedure with the non-dominant hand. Conclusion Cultures and attitudes are changing towards those who are left-handed. Left-handed surgeons may encounter difficulties in the clinical environment throughout their training.

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Section: Medical Training and Handednessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laterality and otorhinolaryngology: a review

Lancer,

Drake-Lee

2023

J. Laryngol. Otol.

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“…Accommodations could include placing the surgeon's laterality and handedness on the scrub cards and making surrounding staff in the operating room aware of the surgeon's handedness. 17 Other intraoperative tips which could be instituted include discussing handedness with the scrub nurse prior to the operation, ensuring draping is far enough back from the patient's head as LH dominant surgeons require elbow room to operate effectively, and discussing patient positioning and possibly "swapping sides" and operating from the patient's left side. 10 Utilizing Simulation as a Tool for Left-Handed Trainees.…”

Section: Pairing Of Left-handed Surgeons With Left-handedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Issues and Strategies in Training Left-Handed Surgeons

Denison,

Awad,

Gillen

et al. 2023

The American Surgeon™

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Left-hand dominance in surgery is a trait historically regarded as disadvantageous to both the trainee and trainer. The aim of this editorial was to identify challenges faced by left-handed trainees and trainers across multiple surgical specialties and to propose strategies that could be implemented during surgical training . Multiple themes were identified including left-handed surgeons experiencing discrimination due to their handedness. Additionally, a higher incidence of ambidexterity among left-handed trainees was noted, suggesting that left-handed surgeons may be adapting to a lack of accommodations for left-hand trainees. Also explored were the effects of handedness in training vs practice and the effects of handedness across subspecialties including orthopedic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and plastic surgery. Solutions discussed involved teaching both right-handed and left-handed surgeons' ambidexterity, pairing left-handed surgeons with left-handed trainees, having left-handed instruments available, adapting the surgical environment to the operating surgeon, communicating laterality, utilizing simulation centers or virtual reality, and encouraging prospective research looking at best-practices.

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“…They also found that the perceived difference may not be solely because of innate skill or dexterity but may be because of a combination of external influences. [ 4 ]…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%