Date: August 2022.
Source: Peer Journal, 10:e13810 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13810.
Background: This study aims to investigate whether a systematic digital training system can improve the learning efficiency of residents in the first-year orthognathic surgery training course and evaluate its effectiveness in teaching orthognathic surgery.
Materials and Methods: A digital training system was applied, and a comparative research approach was adopted. 24 first-year orthognathic surgery residents participated in the experiment as part of their professional skill training. The Experimental group was required to use a digital training system, and the Control group was trained in lectures without digital technologies. Three indicators, including theoretical knowledge and clinical operation, were assessed in tests, and evaluations from instructors were analyzed to evaluate learning efficiency.
Results: The results showed that the scores in theoretical tests, practical operations, and teacher evaluations, the Experimental groups were all higher than the Control group (P = 0.002 for anatomy, P = 0.000 for operation theory) after using digital technology, except for the understanding of complications (P = 0.771). In addition, the questionnaire survey results showed that the study interest (P = 0.001), self-confidence (P = 0.001), satisfaction (P = 0.002), and academic performance (P = 0.001) of the residents of the Experimental group were higher than those of the Control group.
Conclusions: The outcomes indicated that the digital training system could benefit orthognathic residents’ learning efficiency, and learning interest and teaching satisfaction will also improve.

Article: Digital technology for orthognathic surgery training promotion: a randomized comparative study.
Authors: Zhan Su, Yao Liu, Wenli Zhao, Yuanyan Bai, Nan Jiang​, Songsong Zhu. State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China.