The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of training with a personal, portable laparoscopic endo-trainer (PLET) on residents' laparoscopic skills. All participants were randomised to either a home- or hospital-based PLET training group and surgical skill performance was assessed using five laparoscopic exercises. Endpoints consisted ofsubjective and objective assessment ratings as well as exercise time and qualitative data up to 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the difference in exercise time and secondary outcomes included performance scores as well as qualitative data.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
24
The PLET trainer is light and easy to transport packed in a bag and consists of a foldable plastic box, which can be assembled in less than 30 seconds by means of simple handles. There are three accesses for the surgical instruments (ports) as well as a central recess over which a tablet with an integrated camera can be placed. Each participant received a previously prepared opaque envelope containing a black or white USB stick from the Principal Investigator with the assignments on it as part of the randomization process. The outcome assessors were blinded to the allocation.
Clarunis Universitäres Bauchzentrum Basel
Basel, Switzerland
Exercise time
Amount of time surgical residents need for laparoscopic exercises
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Assessment rating
Subjective and objective assessment ratings of surgical skills during exercise
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Qualitative feedback
Open questions about motivation of participating in the study and improving surgical skills
Time frame: 12 weeks
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