Assessment of technical surgical skills.
OBJECTIVE
To review methods of assessment of technical surgical competence, and to point out the potential benefit of such assessment to training and safe practice.


METHODS
Review of publications about methods of evaluation of technical surgical competence. Studies were identified through MEDLINE using the keywords surgery, assessment, operative skills, training, and competence. The references cited in these studies were reviewed to find out whether any other trials fitted the selection criteria.


METHODS
Teaching hospital, Denmark.


RESULTS
There are several validated methods that allow objective assessment of operative skills for both open and laparoscopic surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Objective assessment of technical surgical skills is possible and reliable and valid methods are available. There are good reasons to implement evaluation programmes as a part of surgical education.
Grantcharov
Teodor P
TP
Department of Surgical Gastroenterology L, Aarhus University, Kommunehospitalet, Denmark. ttgrant@dadlnet.dk
Bardram
Linda
L
Funch-Jensen
Peter
P
Rosenberg
Jacob
J
D002983:Clinical Competence; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy