title: Basic surgical skills training: does it work?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the RANZCOG Basic Surgical Skills Workshop (BSSW) with regards to trainees' basic knowledge and skill using a laparoscopic pelvi-trainer.
  
  
  METHODS
  First-year trainees answered a multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) and performed timed simulated laparoscopic exercises with a pelvi-trainer before completing a 2-day workshop. Assessment was repeated following the workshop, at 6 months and 5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MCQ results improved immediately after the workshop (baseline 16/34 vs post-course 23/34; P = 0.0001) declined at 6 months (post-course 24/34 vs 6 months 20/34; P = 0.009) with no change at 5 years (20/34 at 5 years). The time to complete both the simple and the complex laparoscopic exercises improved significantly following the workshop (simple: baseline 30 s, post-course 23 s; P = 0.008, complex: baseline 219 s, post-course 145 s; P = 0.0001) and was maintained at 6 months (simple: post-course 22 s, 6 months 23 s; P = 0.644, complex: post-course 124 s, 6 months 125 s; P = 0.958), but the time to complete the simple exercise was no better at 5 years and the time to complete the complex exercise was increased at 5 years (6 months 115 s, 5 years 172 s, P = 0.023).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  First-year trainees' basic knowledge of electrosurgery, hysteroscopy and laparoscopy and the time to perform skills on a laparoscopic pelvi-trainer improved after a BSSW but there was no further improvement at 5 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. drjuliettekoch@gmail.com
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abbott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires