EAJAIC
Eurasian Journal of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care

The Eurasian Journal of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (EAJAIC) is an independent-unbiased, peer-reviewed, "double-blind", and open-access journal of current national and international issues and reviews for original clinical and experimental research, interesting case reports, differential diagnoses, editorial opinions, letters to the editor, and educational papers in anesthesiology, algology, and intensive care medicine.

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eISSN: 3023-6738
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Original Article
The effect of dominant hand on laryngoscope use in medical students
Abstract
Aims: This study investigates the effect of hand dominance on endotracheal intubation performance among medical students with no prior intubation experience, focusing on procedural time, success rates, glottic visualization, and subjective difficulty. The hypothesis was that right-hand dominant individuals would demonstrate superior performance due to the ergonomic design of standard intubation equipment favoring right-handed use.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 14 medical students (7 right-hand dominant, 7 left-hand dominant) from a university. Participants received standardized training before performing intubation on a mannequin using a standard left-hand Macintosh laryngoscope. Intubation time, number of attempts, Percentage of Glottic Opening (POGO), Cormack-Lehane grade, and subjective difficulty (Likert scale) were recorded. Statistical analysis was conducted using Jamovi software, with p < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: Right-handed participants achieved significantly shorter intubation times than left-handed participants (median 26 vs. 59 s; p = 0.029). Although the first-attempt success rate was higher in the right-handed group (85.7 vs. 57.1%), the difference was not statistically significant. No significant differences were found in POGO scores, Cormack-Lehane grades, or subjective difficulty ratings, although trends indicated that left-handed individuals experienced greater difficulty and inferior glottic visualization.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates that standard intubation equipment ergonomically favors right-handed individuals, potentially leading to more efficient procedural performance. These findings highlight the need for inclusive training strategies and equipment design considerations that accommodate hand dominance, thereby improving educational outcomes and patient safety in airway management.

Keywords : Hand dominance, intubation, laryngoscopy, left hand, right hand

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Article available in :
Volume 2, Issue 4, 2025
Page : 116-121
https://doi.org/10.51271/EAJAIC-0041
Article Information
Received : 03 Haz 2025
Accepted : 14 Ağu 2025
Published : 13 Kas 2025
Corresponding Author :

Dilan Taş: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Erciş Şehit Rıdvan Çevik State Hospital, Van, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Abdullayev R, Ekinci Ö, Karayel İ, et al. The effect of dominant hand on laryngoscope use in medical students. Eur J Anesthesiol Intens Care. 2025;2(4):116-121.

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