One or two trainees per workplace for laparoscopic surgery training courses: results from a randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Medical Training Simulation
• Laparoscopic Surgery

Background:

• Optimal utilization of workplaces in laparoscopic training lacks standardized guidelines.
• This study investigated the efficacy of individual versus paired (dyad) training in laparoscopy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if laparoscopic training should be conducted individually or in pairs.
• To compare the technical skills and operative efficiency of medical students trained in laparoscopy individually versus in pairs.

Main Methods:

• A three-arm randomized controlled trial involving 100 laparoscopically naive medical students.
• Intervention groups received multimodality training (e-learning, box, VR trainers) individually (n=40) or as dyads (n=40).
• A control group (n=20) received no training. Primary outcome was performance on a cadaveric porcine laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) assessed by OSATS; secondary outcomes included GOALS, LC time, and VR performance.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in OSATS or GOALS performance scores between individual, dyad, and control groups.
• Dyad training resulted in a significantly shorter operative time for LC compared to the control group (p=0.042).
• Both individual and dyad training groups demonstrated superior VR performance in terms of time, movements, and path length compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

• The laparoscopic training curriculum equips trainees with essential skills for safe LC performance, regardless of workplace utilization (individual or dyad).
• Dyad training offers a potential advantage by reducing operative time for LC, making it an efficient option when training time and resources are limited.
• Dyad training is a promising alternative for laparoscopic skill acquisition, particularly in resource-constrained or time-limited educational settings.