title: Development of a Sustainable Simulator and Simulation Program for Laparoscopic Skills Training in Haiti.
abstract: Laparoscopic surgery has been shown to have many favorable effects on surgical outcomes and postoperative recovery times. However, the cost of currently available training programs, such as the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS), limits their adoption in developing countries. To address this cost constraint, educators at the Justinian University Hospital (JUH) in Northern Haiti used local materials to build their own laparoscopic skills box trainer. This trainer is used to teach all surgical and OB/GYN residents in their laparoscopic skills program. The progressive curriculum consists of seven modules, three of which are for all trainees and four of which are specifically for surgery and OB/GYN (2). The seven modules are arranged in the order of difficulty; they start with basic maneuvers and progress to complex skills. This report describes both the preparation of the seven models and evaluation of the skills that are learned. This approach may facilitate global access to feasible, progressive, and sustainable laparoscopic training.
authors.affiliation: Surgery Department, Justinien University Hospital.
authors.forename: Emile
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Damas
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics, Justinian University Hospital.
authors.forename: Chesnel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Norcéide
authors.affiliation: Department of OBGYN, Director of Training and Research, Justinien University Hospital.
authors.forename: Yvel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zephyr
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland.
authors.forename: Kerry-Lynn
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland.
authors.forename: Tia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Renouf
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Memorial University of Newfoundland ; Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dubrowski
keywords: haiti; laparoscopic