Gynaecological laparoscopy courses in the United Arab Emirates

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Medical Education
• Gynecologic Surgery

Background:

• Laparoscopic surgery is a preferred method in gynecology due to its advantages over open procedures.
• Standardization of training is crucial for safe and effective gynecological laparoscopy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce modified teaching methodologies for gynecological laparoscopy courses.
• To evaluate the effectiveness and participant satisfaction of these courses in the UAE.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive, 3-day hands-on skills course was conducted for 55 participants.
• Cost-effective dry/wet models were utilized for practical training.
• Participant assessment included multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and practical exercises, alongside feedback questionnaires.

Main Results:

• A significant difference was observed in MCQ scores based on prior laparoscopic experience levels (p=0.05).
• Practical skill assessment did not show significant differences across experience levels (p=0.9).
• The courses received high ratings, with an average participant satisfaction score of 3.8 out of 4.

Conclusions:

• A multimodal, affordable training course for gynecological laparoscopy proved highly successful in the UAE.
• The developed training models are potentially valuable for gynecological laparoscopy training in resource-limited settings.
• Further evaluation is needed to determine the long-term impact of the training on clinical practice.