title: Outcomes of Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) mastery training standards applied to an ergonomically different, lower cost platform.
abstract: Using previously established mastery learning standards, this study compares outcomes of training on standard FLS (FLS) equipment with training on an ergonomically different (ED-FLS), but more portable, lower cost platform.
  
  
  
  Subjects completed a pre-training FLS skills test on the standard platform and were then randomized to train on the FLS training platform (n = 20) or the ED-FLS platform (n = 19). A post-training FLS skills test was administered to both groups on the standard FLS platform.
  
  
  
  Group performance on the pretest was similar. Fifty percent of FLS and 32 % of ED-FLS subjects completed the entire curriculum. 100 % of subjects completing the curriculum achieved passing scores on the post-training test. There was no statistically discernible difference in scores on the final FLS exam (FLS 93.4, ED-FLS 93.3, p = 0.98) or training sessions required to complete the curriculum (FLS 7.4, ED-FLS 9.8, p = 0.13).
  
  
  
  These results show that when applying mastery learning theory to an ergonomically different platform, skill transfer occurs at a high level and prepares subjects to pass the standard FLS skills test.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, USU/Walter Reed Department of Surgery, BLD A Room 3020, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA. sarah.b.placek2.mil@mail.mil.|National Capital Region Simulation Consortium, Bethesda, MD, USA. sarah.b.placek2.mil@mail.mil.
authors.forename: Sarah B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Placek
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, USU/Walter Reed Department of Surgery, BLD A Room 3020, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.|National Capital Region Simulation Consortium, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Brenton R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, USU/Walter Reed Department of Surgery, BLD A Room 3020, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.|National Capital Region Simulation Consortium, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Haviland
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, USU/Walter Reed Department of Surgery, BLD A Room 3020, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.|National Capital Region Simulation Consortium, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Mercy D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, USU/Walter Reed Department of Surgery, BLD A Room 3020, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.|National Capital Region Simulation Consortium, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Mary T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, USU/Walter Reed Department of Surgery, BLD A Room 3020, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Chad T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Cryer
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, USU/Walter Reed Department of Surgery, BLD A Room 3020, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Trinca
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, USU/Walter Reed Department of Surgery, BLD A Room 3020, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.|National Capital Region Simulation Consortium, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Elliott
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, USU/Walter Reed Department of Surgery, BLD A Room 3020, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.|National Capital Region Simulation Consortium, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matthew Ritter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003479:Curriculum; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000193:education*; D008297:Male; D000066908:Simulation Training / Q000191:economics*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: FLS; Laparoscopy; Mastery learning; Simulation