Educational Value of an Intensive and Structured Interval Practice Laparoscopic Training Course for Residents in Obstetrics and Gynecology: A Four-Year Prospective, Multi-Institutional Recruitment Study

• Published in: Journal of surgical education Vol. 69; no. 2; pp. 173 - 179
• Main Authors: Botchorishvili, Revaz, MD, Rabischong, Benoit, MD, Larraín, Demetrio, MD, Khoo, Chong Kiat, MD, Gaia, Georgia, MD, Jardon, Kris, MD, Pouly, Jean-Luc, MD, Jaffeux, Patricia, Aublet-Cuvelier, Bruno, PhD, Canis, Michel, PhD, Mage, Gerard, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Clinical Competence; Cohort Studies; education; Education, Medical, Graduate - organization & administration; Educational Measurement; Female; France; Gynecology - education; Humans; Internship and Residency - organization & administration; laparoscopy; Laparoscopy - education; Male; Medical Knowledge; Models, Animal; Models, Educational; Obstetrics - education; Practice Based Learning and Improvement; Program Evaluation; Prospective Studies; skill deterioration; skill retention; Statistics, Nonparametric; structured training; Surgery; Swine; Time Factors; France; laparoscopy; skill retention; education; Medical Knowledge; skill deterioration; structured training; Practice Based Learning and Improvement
• ISSN: 1931-7204; 1878-7452
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2011.08.004

Objective To assess the educational value of an ongoing interval practice laparoscopy training program among obstetrics and gynecology residents. Design Prospective cohort, multi-institutional recruitment study. We conducted structured laparoscopic training sessions for residents, using both inanimate and porcine models. The 6-day course was separated into two 3-day long modules conducted 2 months apart. A prospective evaluation of standardized tasks was performed using validated scales. Resident's performance was compared using the Student t test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test when appropriate. Setting International Center of Endoscopic Surgery (CICE), Clermont-Ferrand, France. Participants 191 PGY2 or PGY3 residents from different institutions. Results Significant improvement in time and technical scores for both laparoscopic suturing and porcine nephrectomy was noted (p < 0.0001). After 2 months, we found no improvement in suturing time (p = 0.59) or technical scores (p = 0.62), and significant technical deterioration was observed for the right hand (p = 0.02). Porcine nephrectomy improvement remained significant after 2 months (p < 0.0001). Conclusions Despite significant short-term educational value of interval practice in laparoscopic performance, some acquired skills seem to deteriorate faster than anticipated.