title: Training gastroenterology fellows to perform gastric polypectomy using a novel ex vivo model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of hands-on training of gastroenterology fellows in gastric polypectomy using an ex vivo simulator.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight gastroenterology fellows at Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei were evaluated in gastric polypectomy techniques using a pig stomach with artificial polyps created by a rubber band ligation device. The performance of four second year (year-2) fellows who had undergone one year of clinical training was compared with that of four first year (year-1) fellows both before and after a 4-h workshop using the ex vivo simulator. The workshop allowed for hands-on training in the removal of multiple artificial polyps and the placement of hemoclips at the excision site. Evaluation included observation of technical skills, procedure time, and the fellows' confidence scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One week after the workshop, the year-1 fellows were re-evaluated and had significantly improved mean performance scores (from 17.9 ± 1.8 to 22.5 ± 0.7), confidence scale (from 4.5 ± 1.0 to 7.8 ± 0.5) and procedure time (from 615.0 ± 57.4 s to 357.5 ± 85.0 s) compared with their baseline performance. After 4 h of training using the ex vivo simulator, the skills of the year-1 fellows were statistically similar to those of the year-2 fellows.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of this ex vivo simulator significantly improved the endoscopic gastric polypectomy skills of gastroenterology fellows who had not had previous clinical training in gastric polypectomy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei 10449, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: Ming-Jen
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ching-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chia-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chih-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chen-Wang
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ching-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chien-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shou-Chuan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Horng-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D005260:Female; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D016558:Hemostasis, Endoscopic / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011127:Polyps / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013552:Swine; D000078329:Workforce