FLS assessment of competency using simulated laparoscopic tasks.

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) is a joint program by SAGES and the American College of Surgeons.
• It aims to standardize the teaching and assessment of core laparoscopic surgery skills.
• The program is designed to be applicable across surgical specialties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability and validity of the FLS program's assessment components.
• To confirm FLS as a valuable and cost-effective educational tool for laparoscopic surgery.

Main Methods:

• The manual skills component utilizes the McGill Inanimate System for Training and Evaluation of Laparoscopic Skills (MISTELS).
• Rigorous testing was conducted to establish reliability (interrater, test-retest, internal consistency) and validity (content, face, construct, criterion).

Main Results:

• The FLS manual skills component meets high-stakes examination standards for reliability.
• Content, face, construct, and criterion validity have been experimentally established.
• FLS provides a comprehensive, inexpensive learning package with proven value.

Conclusions:

• FLS is a reliable and valid program for teaching and assessing fundamental laparoscopic surgery skills.
• Its validated assessment ensures proficiency in minimally invasive surgical techniques.
• FLS serves as a crucial educational resource for surgical training.