Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Utilizing a 3D Printed Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication Model to Shorten a Resident's Learning Curve
Published on: August 15, 2025
Assessment of psychomotor skills acquisition during laparoscopic cholecystectomy courses
Julian Hance1, Rajesh Aggarwal, Krishna Moorthy
1Department of Surgical Oncology and Technology, St. Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK. j.hance@imperial.ac.jp
Background:
Standardized short courses in laparoscopic cholecystectomy aim to teach laparoscopic skills to surgical trainees, although end-of-course assessments of performance remain subjective. The current study aims to objectively assess psychomotor skills acquisition of trainees attending laparoscopic cholecystectomy courses.
Methods:
Thirty-seven junior surgical trainees had their laparoscopic skills assessed before and after attending 1 of 3 separate 2-day courses (A, B, and C), all with identical format. Assessments were comprised of a standardized simulated laparoscopic task, with performance measured using a valid electromagnetic hand-motion tracking device.
Results:
Overall, trainees made significant improvements in path length (P=.006), number of movements (P<.001), and time taken (P<.001). Analyzing the 3 courses separately, only trainees attending courses A and C made significant improvements.
Discussion:
Objective validated methods can be used to assess learning of psychomotor skills on courses. In addition to providing participants with an insight into their skills, these data can be used to demonstrate course efficacy.