Operating Theatre-Based Video Interventions to Enhance Student Preparation: A Scoping Review.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Operating theatre experience is central to surgical education, yet medical students often feel unprepared due to the environment's complexity. Video-based resources are increasingly used in surgical training, but their role in improving preparedness for the operating theatre is unclear. This scoping review examined how video-based interventions influence medical students' self-reported preparedness, including confidence, familiarity and anxiety.
Methods
PubMed, Web of Science and the Education Resources Information Centre were searched to 1 March 2026. Eligible studies included medical students, at least one operating room-based video intervention, and a self-reported preparedness outcome. Data were extracted using predefined criteria and synthesised thematically by intervention characteristics, delivery format and outcome domains.
Results
Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria, including 911 students. Interventions comprised operative footage, operating theatre environment overviews and perioperative practice demonstrations, predominantly delivered in two-dimensional format. Seven studies incorporated video into existing curricula. Preparedness was assessed through self-reported confidence, familiarity, comfort, anxiety and overall readiness. Ten studies reported improvements in at least one domain of preparedness, although only two assessed preintervention to postintervention change specific to preparation. Among comparative studies, one showed benefit over standard teaching and one found three-dimensional video superior to two-dimensional material. One study reported no effect on anxiety.
Conclusion
Most studies indicated that operating theatre-based video can enhance medical students' perceived preparedness for theatre. Video represents a scalable approach to contextual familiarisation, but evidence remains constrained by heterogeneous designs and outcomes. Further controlled studies are needed to determine optimal formats and integration strategies.