Training4all project - from an advanced minimally invasive surgery course to a national training program

There is an increased demand for minimally invasive surgery training by General surgery residents due to the challenges faced by surgical residency, in the last few years. Comprehensive, structured, simulation-based curricula are a valuable solution to address these challenges. An innovative hands-on surgical course has been developed, focused on advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery. Data provided from two questionnaires of the first two editions were analyzed. Sixteen trainees (n = 16) without experience in robotic surgery participated in the courses and the majority were residents (n = 15). The course has been considered very important for acquiring advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) skills, as well as basic robotic surgery skills. There has been a significant general improvement (M = 4.0; SD = 0.555), specially in regard to autonomy in laparoscopic suture (p < .001), laparoscopic anastomosis (p < .001), laparoscopic fundoplication (p < .001), right colectomy (p < .001) and rectum resection (p < .001). On the other hand, our advanced MIS course highlighted gaps in resident surgical training. The findings of these two preliminary courses led us to design a new residency-long training program from basic to advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery. Our study showed that Hands-on MIS courses are very highly valued by residents.  Independent independent courses are valuable for skills acquisition but we believe that a nationwide, comprehensive and simulation-based program, like the one we present can answer to the needs of structured, progressive and accessible training in General Surgery. Future studies are planned to assess the outcomes of this program in residents' proficiency and its impact in patient safety.