Laparoscopic skills training
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Research background
The Research Audit and Academic Surgery (RAAS) Division has been conducting research into laparoscopic skills training since 2009.
Initially this research examined a number of research questions including:
- The acquisition and maintenance of skills,
- Low versus high fidelity simulation equipment,
- Surgical simulation versus traditional training, and
- The effect of fatigue on surgical simulation skills.
More recently, our research focus has shifted to examining the optimum method for the implementation of laparoscopic simulation skills training, answering:
- Is self-directed learning, on its own, an effective method of delivering laparoscopic skills training?
- Does Mobile Simulation Unit access impact laparoscopic skill acquisition?
Customised skills training solutions
Based on these research results RAAS has developed bespoke training programs for a variety of clients, including:
The Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ)
USANZ sought basic skills training for their trainees. Their program is delivered as hour sessions over three-days and designed to provide trainees with the opportunity to build on their existing skills base through simple structured training.
The University of Adelaide and Flinders University Surgical Societies
The South Australian Regional office of RACS funds a series of introductory skills training nights for these societies. Over a 90 minute session, students are familiarised with basic laparoscopic instrumentation and given the opportunity to perform three tasks.
Australasian Students Surgical Association (ASSA)
As an adjunct to their annual conference, attendees were scheduled in for skills training. These short sessions were designed to offer both a simple introduction to the skills required for laparoscopic surgery, as well as value-adding opportunity for attendees to participate in a 'hands-on' activity.
Pre-Vocational Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society of SA
With similar needs to the ASSA, an in conference 'break-out' training session was developed. This introduced students to instrumentation and a basic coordination skills, which were then 'gamified' in a race as a light-hearted way to end the session.
Publications
Results from each of our research questions, plus additional analyses have been reported extensively, and can be accessedvia the following publications.
Vega, C, Gostlow, H, et al. Characteristics of participants who withdraw from surgical simulation-based educational research. BMJ Simulation and Technology Enhanced Learning. 2019; 5:27-31. DOI: 10.1136.
Gostlow, H, Vega, C, et al. Do Surgeons React?: A retrospective analysis of surgeons' response to harassment of a colleague during simulated operating theatre scenarios. Annals of Surgery. 2018; 268 (2): 277-281. PMID: 28742690.
Gostlow H, Marlow N, Babidge W, Maddern G. Systematic Review of Voluntary Participation in Simulation-Based Laparoscopic Skills Training: Motivators and Barriers for Surgical Trainee Attendance. J Surg Educ. 2016.
Vega CV, Gostlow H, Marlow N, babidge W, Madden GJ. Recruitment barriers in surgical education research. BMJ STEL. 2016;3:2.
Gostlow H, Marlow N, Thomas MJ, Hewett P, Kiermeier A, Babidge W, et al. A comparison of the non-technical skills of surgical trainees and experienced surgeons. The British journal of surgery. 2016.
Pena G, Altree M, Field J, Thomas MJ, Hewett P, Babidge W, et al. Surgeons' and trainees' perceived self-efficacy in operating theatre non-technical skills. The British journal of surgery. 2015.
Pena G, Altree M, Field J, Sainsbury D, Babidge W, Hewett P, et al. Nontechnical skills training for the operating room: A prospective study using simulation and didactic workshop. Surgery. 2015;158(1):300-9.
Pena G, Altree M, Babidge W, Field J, Hewett P, Maddern G. Mobile Simulation Unit: taking simulation to the surgical trainee. ANZ journal of surgery. 2015;85(5):339-43.
Lin D, Pena G, Field J, Altree M, Marlow N, Babidge W, et al. What are the demographic predictors in laparoscopic simulator performance? ANZ journal of surgery. 2015.
Dawe, S, Pena, G, et al. Systematic review of skills transfer after surgical simulation-based training. British Journal of Surgery. 2014; 101(9), 1063-76. PMID: 24827930.
Dawe, S, Windsor, J, et al. A systematic review of surgical skills transfer after simulation-based training: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and endoscopy. Annals of Surgery. 2014; 259(2), 236-48. PMID: 24100339.
Tan SB, Pena G, Altree M, Maddern GJ. Multidisciplinary team simulation for the operating theatre: a review of the literature. ANZ journal of surgery. 2014;84(7-8):515-22.
Pena GN, Altree M, Babidge W, Maddern GJ. Surgical simulation training: mobile and anywhere. The Medical journal of Australia. 2014;200(3):180-1.
Marlow N, Altree M, Babidge W, Field J, Hewett P, Maddern GJ. Laparoscopic skills acquisition: a study of simulation and traditional training. ANZ journal of surgery. 2014;84(12):976-80.
Khan MW, Lin D, Marlow N, Altree M, Babidge W, Field J, et al. Laparoscopic skills maintenance: a randomized trial of virtual reality and box trainer simulators. Journal of surgical education. 2014;71(1):79-84.
Daruwalla J, Marlow N, Field J, Altree M, Babidge W, Hewett P, et al. Effect of fatigue on laparoscopic skills: a comparative historical cohort study. ANZ journal of surgery. 2014;84(3):137-42.
Xafis V, Babidge W, Field J, Altree M, Marlow N, Maddern G. The efficacy of laparoscopic skills training in a Mobile Simulation Unit compared with a fixed site: a comparative study. Surgical endoscopy. 2013;27(7):2606-12.
Pena GN, Altree MJ, Field JB, Babidge W, Maddern GJ. Demand for surgical simulated learning. Supervisors and trainees views: do they align? ANZ journal of surgery. 2013;83(10):700-1.
Tan SC, Marlow N, Field J, Altree M, Babidge W, Hewett P, et al. A randomized crossover trial examining low- versus high-fidelity simulation in basic laparoscopic skills training. Surgical endoscopy. 2012;26(11):3207-14.
Marlow N, Maddern G. The Current state of Australian laparoscopic surgical skills training. ANZ journal of surgery. 2010;80(10).
Conference presentations
Marlow N, Gostlow H, Vega Vega C, Babidge W, Maddern G. Delivery Strategies for laparoscopic skills training. SimHealth; Sydney, NSW 2016
Marlow N, Gostlow H, Vega Vega C, Babidge W, Maddern G. Surgical trainee preferences for the delivery of surgical simulation training. SimHealth; Sydney, NSW 2016
Marlow N, Gostlow H, Babidge W, Maddern G. Interim results from the Laparoscopic Simulation Skills Program. SimHealth; Melbourne, Victoria 2016.
Marlow N, Gostlow H, Hewett P, Thomas MJ, Gostlow H, Vega Vega C. Comparison of the non‐technical skills of Surgical trainees & Experienced surgeons. SimHealth; Melbourne, Victoria 2016.
Pena G. Self-efficacy in non-technical skills: does self-perception correlate with performance. RACS Annual SCientific Congress; Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 2014.
Pena G. Incorporating simulation into non-technical skills training for the operating room. SimHealth; Brisbane, Queensland 2013.
Pena G. What are the demographic predictors of basic skills acquisition on laparoscopic simulators? . SimHealth; Brisbane, Queensland 2013.
Maddern G. Surgical Simulation: Has It a Future? SimHealth; Brisbane, Queensland 2013.
Maddern G, editor Surgical Team Simulation SimHealth; Brisbane, Queensland 2013.
Babidge W, Marlow N, Altree M, Field J, Hewett P, Tan SB, et al. Surgeon versus non-surgeon training. SimHealth; Sydney, New South Wales 2012.
Maddern G. An overview of the current state of evidence around the acquisition and retention of surgical skills both in the clinical and simulated setting. SimHealth; Melbourne, Victoria 2010.
Altree M. The simulated surgical skills program mobile simulation unit. SimHealth; Melbourne, Victoria 2010.