Training of Future Surgeons in Minimally Invasive Surgery Needs Intensification: A Multicentre Study

Abstract

Introduction
The advent of minimally invasive surgery with its many benefits for both patients and surgeons has meant that increasingly more operations are nowadays performed laparoscopically. With the current study, we aim to look at the exposure trainee doctors and in particular first year trainees, currently have in laparoscopic surgery.
Materials and Methods
A 16-question survey was circulated to the first-year trainee doctor cohort of 13 UK Hospitals. The questionnaire focused on confidence with 5 basic laparoscopic skills, undergraduate teaching and postgraduate teaching.
Results
A total of 64 responses out of 302 questionnaires sent were returned. Of the respondents, 63.5% had General Surgical placements. General confidence with basic laparoscopic skills was low with only 33% of respondents reporting confidence with these skills, whereas only 25% of respondents received adequate teaching on laparoscopic skills during medical school. At postgraduate level, only 8% of respondents stated they had any formal teaching in laparoscopic skills during their foundation year.
Discussion
From our study it is clear that experience of first-year training doctors in laparoscopic surgery is low. Most respondents had very little teaching or hands-on experience in laparoscopic skills as undergraduates. At training level, again there was little dedicated teaching.
Conclusion
This study shows that the current training in laparoscopic surgery both in medical school and foundation training is not optimal. Basic skills can be taught with relative ease and these skills are directly transferable to the operating theatre environment. We propose that changes must be made to the training programme to better prepare junior doctors.