title: Effect of instructor feedback on skills retention after laparoscopic simulator training: follow-up of a randomized trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Instructor feedback reduces the number of repetitions and time to reach proficiency during laparoscopic simulator training. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of instructor feedback on long-term skill retention.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 6-month follow-up of a randomized trial. Participants were surgical novices (medical students). All participants (n = 99) initially practiced a laparoscopic salpingectomy on the LapSim virtual reality simulator to proficiency. The intervention group could request instructor feedback, whereas the control group could not. After 6 months, the participants (n = 65) practiced on the simulator until they reached proficiency again. The primary outcomes were the total time and the number of repetitions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initially, the intervention group used significantly fewer repetitions (29 vs 65, p < 0.0005) and less total training time (162 vs 342 min, p < 0.0005) than the control group to reach the proficiency level. At follow-up, both the groups used an equal number of repetitions (21 vs 20, p = 0.72) and time (83 vs 73 min, p = 0.37) to reach the same proficiency level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Instructor feedback during proficiency-based laparoscopic simulator training does not affect the long-term retention of skills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, Juliane Marie Centre for Children, Women and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: fbjerrum@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Flemming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bjerrum
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, Juliane Marie Centre for Children, Women and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maagaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, Juliane Marie Centre for Children, Women and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Led Sorensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hillerød Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rifbjerg Larsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto, and The Wilson Centre, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ringsted
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Trial Unit, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Winkel
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, Juliane Marie Centre for Children, Women and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Bent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ottesen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, Juliane Marie Centre for Children, Women and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jeanett
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strandbygaard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007721:Knowledge of Results, Psychological; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000193:education*; D008297:Male; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D058994:Salpingectomy / Q000193:education; D013337:Students, Medical; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Medical Knowledge; Practice-Based Learning and Improvement; Systems-Based Practice; instructor feedback; laparoscopy; proficiency-based training; retention; simulation