Evaluation of an integrated micro-skills training and clinical pathway model in surgical internship education

Background Surgical practical teaching (practical skills teaching) is a core component of the medical education system. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a synergistic integration of micro-skills training with the clinical pathway teaching method (CPTM) in surgical internship education. Methods A total of 136 surgical interns were randomly assigned to an experimental group (synergistic micro-skills training-CPTM model) or a control group (traditional teaching). The experimental group received structured, pathway-guided training combined with video-based micro-skills training. Both groups underwent theoretical examinations, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX), and Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) assessments. A Likert-scale questionnaire was used to evaluate teaching satisfaction, skill improvement, and student engagement. Results The synergistic model group demonstrated superior performance compared to the control group across all objective metrics. They achieved significantly higher scores in theoretical exams (79.13 ± 5.13 vs. 75.96 ± 5.28; mean difference 3.17, 95% CI [1.34–5.00]; Cohen’s d = 0.61, 95% CI [0.26–0.96]; P < 0.001) and OSCE (89.90 ± 4.00 vs. 84.99 ± 4.69; mean difference 4.91, 95% CI [3.35–6.47]; Cohen’s d = 1.11, 95% CI [0.74–1.47]; P < 0.001). Significant improvements were also observed across all domains of the Mini-CEX and DOPS assessments, as well as in questionnaire measures of satisfaction, clinical thinking, and engagement (all P < 0.05), with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large (Cohen’s d 0.36–1.59). Conclusion The synergistic integration of micro-skills training and CPTM creates a powerful and effective educational model, significantly enhancing surgical interns’ theoretical knowledge, practical skills, clinical reasoning, and overall learning engagement. This integrated model provides a promising and innovative framework for modern surgical education.