Background: Numerous obstacles exist for learning the principles and technical skills necessary for minimally invasive operations. This challenges the traditional teaching model solely in the operating room. Also, well preparing the residents prior to entering the operating room should improve surgical time, skills, and patient safety.
Methods: A prospective interventional study, performed at an academic affiliated community hospital. We administered a pre-intervention test to 20 OBGYN residents (10 junior and 10 senior). The questions pertained to fundamental principles of laparoscopy including patient positioning and related nerve injuries, electrosurgery, laparoscopic equipment, physiological considerations, and laparoscopic complications. After the course of the academic year, all the residents were administered a post-intervention exam. Test scores were compared, averages calculated, and t-test applied.
Results: In the first stage, the average pretest score for junior residents was 35%, and for seniors was 42.14%. Nonetheless, the average posttest score for junior residents was 75.71%, and for seniors was 48,70%. This means the junior residents group improved 40,71%, while the senior residents improved 6,42%. T-test was applied, and showed statiscally significant difference (t-value=5.20; p=0.00003).
Discussions: Introducing a laparoscopic curriculum to a residency program has a significant impact on improving resident knowledge of the fundamental principles of laparoscopy, more so than the traditional method. Future studies are underway to evaluate the effect of a structured simulation course on resident operating room performance.
Keywords: laparoscopy, residency, curriculum
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2016, Resident, Faculty, Residency Director, Residency Coordinator, Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, Practice-Based Learning & Improvement, GME, CME, Quality & Safety, Problem-Based Learning, Faculty Development, Minimally Invasive Surgery, General Ob-Gyn,
Camila De Amorim Paiva, MD, Maimonides Med Ctr; Nancy Tang, MD; Cheruba Prabakar, MD; Pedram Bral, MD