[Method for evaluating effectiveness of simulation trainings in surgical manipulations]

Performance of varies surgical manipulations (SM) is a key skill in surgery. To develop such skills simulation trainings (ST) are used, followed by a training transfer, which is the ultimate goal of ST However, this training goal is not always achievable - the share of doctors using laparoscopic intracorporal suturing after the training ranges from 43.8% to 72.2%. Therefore, to improve training transfer it is necessity to evaluate effectiveness of such training programs. Current methods evaluate training results either outside real practice or in practice but in small groups due to high cost and efforts consumed. The paper presents a new method to evaluate effectiveness of SM simulation training programs in general population of the trainees, evaluate additional effects of the training and analyze personal factors affecting the training results. The method is based on a survey of the ST program participants, and tested at the Training and Accreditation Center «Medical Simulation Center of the Botkin Hospital» within the program on laparoscopic intracorporal suturing. The rate of training transfer added up to 88.9%. The suggested method makes it possible to evaluate effectiveness of SM simulation training in general population of the trainees, analyze factors affecting the training results and use findings for improving ST programs and methods in general. The method can be recommended for a large-scale implementation in simulation training programs.