Validation of a Curriculum (STAC) for Technical Skill Acquisition in Minimally Invasive Surgery

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Surgical Education
• Interventions: Other: STAC curriculum

• Registration Number: NCT01560494
• Lead Sponsor: Unity Health Toronto

Brief Summary

This study describes the development and validation of a structured training and assessment curriculum (STAC) for a basic laparoscopic procedure. The investigators hypothesized that residents trained using the STAC curriculum would demonstrate superior technical skills in the operating room compared to residents that were trained using a traditional curriculum.

Detailed Description

The objective of this study was to develop and validate an ex-vivo comprehensive curriculum for a basic laparoscopic procedure. Although simulators have been well validated as tools to teach technical skills, their integration into comprehensive curricula is lacking. Moreover, neither the effect of ex-vivo training on learning curves in the operating room (OR), nor the effect on non-technical proficiency has been investigated. This randomized single-blinded prospective trial allocated 20 surgical trainees to a structured-curriculum (STAC) group or conventional residency training. The STAC curriculum consisted of: case-based learning, proficiency-based virtual reality training, laparoscopic box training, and OR participation. After completion of the intervention, all participants performed 5 sequential laparoscopic cholecystectomies in the OR. The primary outcome measure was the difference in technical performance between the 2 groups during the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Secondary outcome measures included differences with respect to: learning curves in the OR, technical proficiency of each sequential laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and non-technical skills.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2008-07
• Primary Completion: 2009-07
• Study Completion: 2010-07
• Status Verified: 2012-03
• Study First Submitted: 2012-03-13
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-03-20
• Last Update Submitted: 2012-03-20
• Study First Posted: 2012-03-22
• Last Update Posted: 2012-03-22

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• post graduate year 1 and 2 general surgical residents
• completed less than 10 laparoscopic cholecystectomies or appendectomies as the primary surgeon

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
STAC curriculum	STAC curriculum	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Technical skills	6 months	Participants' technical skills will be assessed in the operating room as they perform a laparoscopic cholecystectomy under supervision. The procedure will be video-recorded and sent for assessment to a blinded evaluator. Technical skills will be assessed using a previously validated technical skills assessment tool (Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill - OSATS)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
cognitive knowledge	6 months	Study participants will complete a multiple choice quiz designed to assess congitive knowledge relating to performing laparoscpoic cholecystectomy.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

St. Michael's Hospital; 🇨🇦 Toronto, Ontario, Canada