1 vs 3 days laparoscopic suturing courses: is it feasible to design a valid training curriculum?

Laparoscopic skills are unlikely to be achieved exclusively in the operating theatre, so simulation training has become mandatory to acquire specific psychomotor skills to be merged in a more complex procedure.

To compare 3-day vs. 1-day laparoscopic suturing courses and to better address participants' needs according to their level of experience.

Observational cohort study conducted between January 2017 and December 2018 including 107 participants amongst which 61 attended a 3-day and 46 the 1-day suturing course.

Data analysis showed no significant difference in the pre-test suturing scores between the two groups. On each course, when comparing the pre- and post-tests results, the participants reached a statistically significant improvement in both precision and knotting score (p< 0.01). However, when comparing the two types of courses, the data showed a better performance in the post-session test for those attending the 3-day course (p<0.05), as well as a higher mean score improvement (4.7 vs. 2.8; p<0.05) and time needed to complete exercises (-270s vs. -150s; p<0.05). Furthermore, grouping the participants according to their experience, the experts achieved a significantly better improvement attending the 3-day course, when compared to the beginners.

Both 3 and 1-day course are successful in improving laparoscopic suturing skills regardless of the participant's experience. However experienced participants benefit more from a longer course while the 1-day one should be dedicated to pre-surgical competences acquisition.