Investigating the presence of surgical learning in the Timing of Primary Surgery for cleft palate randomised trial.

ABSTRACT: Background/aimsWhen conducting a randomised controlled trial in surgery, it is important to consider surgical learning, where surgeons' familiarity with one, or both, of the interventions increases during the trial. If present, learning may compromise trial validity. We demonstrate a statistical investigation into surgical learning within a trial of cleft palate repair.MethodsThe Timing of Primary Surgery compared primary surgery, using the Sommerlad technique, for cleft palate repair delivered at 6 or 12 months of age. Participating surgeons had varying levels of experience with the intervention and in repair across the age groups. Trial design aimed to reduce the surgical learning via pre-trial surgical technique training and balancing the randomisation process by surgeon. We explore res

SUBMITTER: Conroy EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11986075 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature