title: New dog, new tricks: trends in performance on the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery simulator for incoming surgery residents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to laparoscopic surgery during medical school has increased over recent years. The Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) simulator allows for objective assessment of laparoscopic skills. This study aimed to determine whether the fundamental laparoscopic skills of incoming surgery residents have improved.
  
  
  METHODS
  The initial FLS performance of first-year residents between 2003 and 2008 was identified from a prospective database. Linear regression was used to determine the effect of incoming year on performance of the five FLS simulator tasks (peg transfer, pattern cut, endoloop placement, suture with an extracorporeal knot [EC], suture with an intracorporeal knot [IC]) and the total score. Statistical significance was defined as a p value less than 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 63 first-year residents were identified from the database. The total FLS scores improved over time (r = 0.39; p = 0.001). The scores for peg transfer did not change significantly, but the scores for pattern cutting (r = 0.37; p = 0.002), endoloop placement (r = 0.36; p = 0.004), suture with EC (r = 0.32; p = 0.02), and suture with IC (r = 0.26; p = 0.03) all improved significantly over the 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The baseline fundamental laparoscopic skills of incoming surgery residents appear to have improved over time. This may be due to increased clinical laparoscopic exposure and availability of laparoscopic simulation in medical school.
authors.affiliation: Steinberg-Bernstein Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery and Innovation, McGill University, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Room E19-117, Montreal, QC, H3G 1A4, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicoleta O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Kolozsvari
authors.forename: Pepa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaneva
authors.forename: Melina C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vassiliou
authors.forename: Gerald M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fried
authors.forename: Liane S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Feldman
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000193:education* / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*