Outcomes of Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) mastery training standards applied to an ergonomically different, lower cost platform

• Published in: Surgical endoscopy Vol. 31; no. 6; pp. 2616 - 2622
• Main Authors: Placek, Sarah B., Franklin, Brenton R., Haviland, Sarah M., Wagner, Mercy D., O’Donnell, Mary T., Cryer, Chad T., Trinca, Kristen D., Silverman, Elliott, Matthew Ritter, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; Adult; Clinical Competence; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Costs and Cost Analysis; Curricula; Curriculum; Economic impact; Ergonomics; Female; Gastroenterology; Gynecology; Hepatology; Humans; Laparoscopy - education; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Proctology; Simulation Training - economics; Skills; Surgery; Young Adult; Laparoscopy; Simulation; FLS; Mastery learning
• ISSN: 0930-2794; 1432-2218
• DOI: 10.1007/s00464-016-5271-5

Objective Using previously established mastery learning standards, this study compares outcomes of training on standard FLS (FLS) equipment with training on an ergonomically different (ED-FLS), but more portable, lower cost platform. Methods Subjects completed a pre-training FLS skills test on the standard platform and were then randomized to train on the FLS training platform ( n  = 20) or the ED-FLS platform ( n  = 19). A post-training FLS skills test was administered to both groups on the standard FLS platform. Results Group performance on the pretest was similar. Fifty percent of FLS and 32 % of ED-FLS subjects completed the entire curriculum. 100 % of subjects completing the curriculum achieved passing scores on the post-training test. There was no statistically discernible difference in scores on the final FLS exam (FLS 93.4, ED-FLS 93.3, p  = 0.98) or training sessions required to complete the curriculum (FLS 7.4, ED-FLS 9.8, p  = 0.13). Conclusions These results show that when applying mastery learning theory to an ergonomically different platform, skill transfer occurs at a high level and prepares subjects to pass the standard FLS skills test.