A method of objectively evaluating improvements in laparoscopic skills

Background: In this paper, we explored a quick and inexpensive method to evaluate the improvement in laparoscopic skills gained by residents after attending a formal training course in laparoscopy.

Methods: Surgical residents attending an endoscopic workshop were randomly selected to perform tasks in a training simulator. Each was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively before and after the workshop. A control group of six residents who did not attend the workshop were selected to perform the same tasks twice in succession.

Results: The total mean time improvement for all tasks in the study group was 34.3% and in the control group 7.3% (p= 0.0001). When the data was separated for each task, statistically significant improvement was demonstrated in five of the six tasks.

Conclusions: Residents who attend a formal workshop in endoscopy can gain significant improvement in skills. The methods described in this study can be used to quantitatively measure this improvement throughout a resident's training.

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, US

   J. Y. Chung

2. Department of Surgery, 2150 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 6-B, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA, US

   J. M. Sackier

Received: 4 March 1996/Accepted: 12 August 1996

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