The feasibility and acceptability of integrating regular centralised laboratory-based skills training into a surgical training programme

Figures & data

Table

Practice points

Centralised distributed surgical training is feasible and can be effectively integrated within a higher specialist registrar programme. Surgical trainees who participated in the LD Skills Programme supported that simulation-based training is essential as long as the curriculum and training models are level-appropriate.

Table 1.  Procedures covered by the Programme

Year 1

Repair of inguinal hernia with mesh (six–eight models in two sessions)

Primary varicose vein surgery (six–eight models in two sessions)

Knot tying in difficult angles and narrow fields (one session)

Small bowel anastomosis (six–eight models in two sessions)

Ergonomics of the setup for laparoscopic surgery (one session)

Diagnostic laparoscopy (one session)

Basic laparoscopic dissection techniques (one session)

Year 2

Large bowel anastomosis [with unmatched ends] (six models in two2 sessions)

Gastro-jejunostomy and cholecysto-jejunostomy (six models in two sessions)

Basic vascular anastomosis (six models in two2 sessions)

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (eight–ten models in four sessions)

Year 3

Oesophageal anastomosis (six–eight models in three sessions)

Anal anastomosis (six–eight models in three sessions)

Laparoscopic suturing and intra and extra-corporeal knot tying (three sessions)

Advanced laparoscopic dissection techniques (one sessions)

Figure 1. Trainee attendance record across year group for 2006–2007 and 2007–2008.

Figure 2. Trainee session evaluations across the three SpR year groups for 2006–2007.

Table 2.  Participants’ rankings of preferred learning methods

Teaching method	Average Rank
Supervised practice in theatre	1.0
Unsupervised practice in theatre	3.1
Structured training in laboratory setting	3.6
Watching consultants	3.7
Unsupervised practice in own time	5.1
Using videos/CD ROMs, etc	5.9
Lectures	6.3
Reading books	6.5