Implementation and evaluation of a novel subspecialty society fellows robotic surgical course: the SGO minimally invasive academy surgical curriculum

• Published in: Journal of gynecologic oncology 2021, 32(2), , pp.1-7
• Main Authors: Boitano, Teresa K L, Smith, Haller J, Cohen, Joshua G, Rossi, Emma C, Kim, Kenneth H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original; 산부인과학
• ISSN: 2005-0380; 2005-0399
• DOI: 10.3802/jgo.2021.32.e26

To evaluate the utility of a society-based robotic surgery training program for fellows in gynecologic oncology. All participants underwent a 2-day robotic surgery training course between 2015-2017. The course included interactive didactic sessions with video, dry labs, and robotic cadaver labs. The labs encompassed a wide range of subject matter including troubleshooting, instrument variation, radical hysterectomies, and lymph node dissections. Participants completed a pre- and post-course survey using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "not confident" to "extremely confident" on various measures. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics v. 24. The response rate was high with 86% of the 70 participants completing the survey. Sixteen (26.7%) of these individuals were attending physicians and 44 (73.3%) were fellows. In general, there was a significant increase in confidence in more complex procedures and concepts such as radical hysterectomy (p=0.01), lymph node dissection (p=0.01), troubleshooting (p=0.001), and managing complications (p=0.004). Faculty comfort and practice patterns were cited as the primary reason (58.9%) for limitations during robotic procedures followed secondarily by surgical resources (34.0%). In both gynecologic oncology fellows and attendings, this educational theory-based curriculum significantly improved confidence in the majority of procedures and concepts taught, emphasizing the value of hands-on skill labs.