title: SAGE(S) advice: application of a standardized train the trainer model for faculty involved in a Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) hands-on course.
abstract: Currently, no prerequisite teaching qualification is required to serve as faculty for SAGES hands-on courses (SAGES-HOC). The Lapco-Train-the-Trainers (Lapco-TT) is a course for surgical trainers, in which delegates learn a standardized teaching technique for skills acquisition. The aims of this study were to 1) determine if this curriculum could be delivered in a day course to SAGES-HOC faculty and 2) assess the impact of such training on learners' educational experience taught by this faculty at a subsequent SAGES-HOC.
  
  
  
  Six experts attended a one-day Lapco-TT course. SAGES-HOC participants were split into two groups: Group A taught by Lapco-TT trained, and Group B by "untrained" course faculty. Opinion surveys were completed by both the SAGES-HOC learners and the Lapco-TT trained course faculty. Furthermore, the latter underwent self-, learner-, and observer-based evaluation using a previously validated teaching assessment tool (cSTTAR). Mean scores were reported and analyzed [Mann-Whitney U, t test (p < 0.05)].
  
  
  
  All 6 Lapco-TT delegates found the course useful (5), and felt that it would influence the way they taught in the OR (4.83), that their course objectives were met (4.83), and that they would recommend the course to their colleagues (4.83). Of the SAGES-HOC participants, compared to Group B (n = 22), Group A learners(n = 10) better understood what they were supposed to learn (5 vs. 4.15 [p = 0.046]) and do (5 vs. 4 [p = 0.046]), felt that the session was well organized (5 vs. 4 [p = 0.046]), that time was used effectively (5 vs. 3.9 [p = 0.046]), and that performance feedback was sufficient (5 vs. 3.9 [p = 0.028]) and effective (5 vs. 3.95 [p = 0.028]). Group A faculty were rated significantly higher by their learners on the cSTTARs than Group B (p < 0.0005). Group A faculty rated themselves significantly lower than both expert observers (p < 0.0005) and compared to the Group B faculty's self-assessment (p < 0.002).
  
  
  
  The Lapco-TT course can be delivered effectively over one day and impacts the educational experience of learners at a SAGES-HOC. This could help establish a standardized method of teaching at SAGES-HOCs and thereby increase their value for learners.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Susannah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wyles
authors.affiliation: Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), 11300 W Olympic Blvd, Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA. erin@bscmanage.com.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.affiliation: , Falls Church, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dort
authors.affiliation: Houston Methodist, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tariq
authors.affiliation: Basingstoke Hospital, Basingstoke, UK.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cecil
authors.affiliation: Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK.
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.affiliation: LSUHSC, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paige
authors.affiliation: Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation and Education, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Dunkin
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000193:education*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D012955:Societies, Medical; D066231:Surgeons / Q000193:education*
keywords: Continuing professional development; Hands-on course; Skills training and acquisition; Surgical education; Train-the-trainer