Training of European urology residents in laparoscopy: results of a pan-European survey.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the participation of European urology residents in urological laparoscopy, their training patterns and facilities available in European Urology Departments.


METHODS
A survey, consisting of 23 questions concerning laparoscopic training, was published online as well as distributed on paper, during the Annual European Association of Urology Congress in 2012. Exposure to laparoscopic procedures, acquired laparoscopic experience, training patterns, training facilities and motivation were evaluated. Data was analysed with descriptive statistics.


RESULTS
In all, 219 European urology residents answered the survey. Conventional laparoscopy was available in 74% of the respondents' departments, while robotic surgery was available in 17% of the departments. Of the respondents, 27% were first surgeons and 43% were assistants in conventional laparoscopic procedures. Only 23% of the residents rated their laparoscopic experience as at least 'satisfactory'; 32% of the residents did not attend any course or fellowship on laparoscopy. Dry laboratory was the most frequent setting for training (33%), although 42% of the respondents did not have access to any type of laparoscopic laboratory. The motivation to perform laparoscopy was rated as 'high' or 'very high' by 77% of the respondents, and 81% considered a post-residency fellowship in laparoscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
Urological laparoscopy is available in most European training institutions, with residents playing an active role in the procedure. However, most of them consider their laparoscopic experience to be poor. Moreover, the availability of training facilities and participation in laparoscopy courses and fellowships are low and should be encouraged.
Department of Urology and Renal Transplantation, University Hospital of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Frederico T G
FT
Furriel
Maria P
MP
Laguna
Arnaldo J C
AJ
Figueiredo
Pedro T C
PT
Nunes
Jens J
JJ
Rassweiler
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000193:education*; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012371:Robotics / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D014572:Urology / Q000193:education*
education; laparoscopy; residency; surgical training; urology