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Impact of one-to-one tutoring on fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery (FLS) passing rate in a single center experience outside the United States: a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

Background

Outside the US, FLS certification is not required and its teaching methods are not well standardized. Even if the FLS was designed as “stand alone” training system, most of Academic Institution offer support to residents during training. We present the first systematic application of FLS in Italy.

Our aim was to evaluate the role of mentoring/coaching on FLS training in terms of the passing rate and global performance in the search for resource optimization.

Methods

Sixty residents in general surgery, obstetrics & gynecology, and urology were selected to be enrolled in a randomized controlled trial, practicing FLS with the goal of passing a simulated final exam. The control group practiced exclusively with video material from SAGES, whereas the interventional group was supported by a mentor.

Results

Forty-six subjects met the requirements and completed the trial. For the other 14 subjects no results are available for comparison. One subject for each group failed the exam, resulting in a passing rate of 95.7%, with no obvious differences between groups. Subgroup analysis did not reveal any difference between the groups for FLS tasks.

Conclusion

We confirm that methods other than video instruction and deliberate FLS practice are not essential to pass the final exam. Based on these results, we suggest the introduction of the FLS system even where a trained tutor is not available. This trial is the first single institution application of the FLS in Italy and one of the few experiences outside the US.

Trial Number: NCT02486575 (https://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to all the residents who participated in this TRIAL. We would like to express sincere gratitude to Luisa Ciullo, Director of the administrative operations at our Institution, for the coordination and the logistic support.

Funding

No funds received for this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surgical Clinic, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, BS, Italy

    Federico Gheza, Leonardo Solaini, Gian Luca Baiocchi, Nazario Portolani & Guido Alberto Massimo Tiberio

  2. Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Science, University G. d’Annunzio, Chieti, Italy

    Paolo Raimondi

  3. General, Emergency and Trauma Surgery, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy

    Federico Coccolini

Authors
  1. Federico Gheza
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  2. Paolo Raimondi
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  3. Leonardo Solaini
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  4. Federico Coccolini
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  5. Gian Luca Baiocchi
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  6. Nazario Portolani
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  7. Guido Alberto Massimo Tiberio
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Federico Gheza.

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Disclosures

Federico Gheza, Paolo Raimondi, Leonardo Solaini, Federico Coccolini, Gian Luca Baiocchi, Nazario Portolani, and GuidoAlberto Massimo Tiberio have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Gheza, F., Raimondi, P., Solaini, L. et al. Impact of one-to-one tutoring on fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery (FLS) passing rate in a single center experience outside the United States: a randomized controlled trial. Surg Endosc 32, 4428–4435 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6185-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6185-1

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