A modular laparoscopic training program for pediatric surgeons.
OBJECTIVE
A structured endoscopic training program for pediatric surgeons has not yet been established. This study was conducted to develop a modular training program (MTP) for pediatric surgeons and to evaluate its effectiveness for surgeons with and without previous experience in laparoscopic surgery.


METHODS
Nine pediatric surgeons participated in the study. They were divided into 2 groups: group A (n=4), surgeons who had experienced more than 10 cases of laparoscopic surgery prior to MTP; group B (n=5), those who had experienced fewer than 10 cases. They participated in a standardized MTP workshop, which consisted of 2 "see-through" and 3 "laparoscopic" tasks. Each participant's psychomotor skills were evaluated objectively before and after MTP with a computer-generated virtual simulator and were evaluated for precision, efficiency, and speed.


RESULTS
In participants, speed was significantly enhanced after MTP. In group A, no differences were observed after MTP, whereas significant improvements were noted in efficiency and speed after MTP in group B. Before MTP, efficiency was significantly higher in group A than in group B; however, no difference remained between the 2 groups after MTP.


CONCLUSIONS
MTP is effective for nonlaparoscopic pediatric surgeons to become familiar with basic endoscopic skills.
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Japan. nakajima@pedsurg.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Kiyokazu
K
Nakajima
Masafumi
M
Wasa
Shuji
S
Takiguchi
Eiji
E
Taniguchi
Hideki
H
Soh
Shuichi
S
Ohashi
Akira
A
Okada
D000328:Adult; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008961:Models, Structural; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014584:User-Computer Interface