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Validation of a cost-effective appendicectomy model for surgical training
Marina Yiasemidou1,2, Daniel Glassman3, Khalid Khan4
1Honorary Research Fellow, Leeds Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Leeds, St. James University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
Background:
Appendicitis is a commonly occurring condition worldwide. The gold standard treatment is appendicectomy. Although training models are commercially available for this procedure, they are often associated with high cost. Here we present a cost-effective model.
Aim:
To establish construct validity of a cost-effective laparoscopic appendicectomy simulation model.
Methods:
Three groups of surgeons were recruited; novices (n = 31), of intermediate expertise (n = 13) and experts (n = 5) and asked to perform a simulated laparoscopic appendicectomy using the new model. Their performance was assessed by a faculty member and compared between the three groups using a validated scoring system (Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills [GOALS] score).
Results:
One-way ANOVA test showed a significant difference in task performance between groups (p < 0.0001). Post-hoc comparisons after the application of Bonferroni correction (statistically significant p value <0.017) demonstrate a significant difference in performance between all groups for all GOALS categories as well as the total score. Effect size calculations showed that experience level had moderate (Eta-squared >0.5 and <0.8) and significant (>0.8) impact on the performance of the simulated procedure.
Conclusion:
The model described in this study is cost-effective, valid and can adequately simulate appendicectomy. The authors recommend inclusion of this model to postgraduate surgical training.
