The feasibility and acceptability of integrating regular centralised laboratory-based skills training into a surgical training programme

Abstract

Background: Traditional laboratory-based skills training provides mass training that does not match clinical experience and is not tailored to individual needs. This compromises the transfer and retention of skills into clinical practice.Aim: To demonstrate the feasibility of integrating a centralised programme of laboratory-based surgical skills training into a higher surgical training programme and to evaluate its effectiveness and acceptability to trainees.Methods: Laboratory-based skills training was provided at a central site, delivered by consultants and tailored to the trainees’ level of clinical experience. Each trainee was expected to attend one session a month for 11 months a year. Evaluation was conducted through attendance records, structured evaluations by participants, independent qualitative questionnaires and web interviews.Results: Forty-two specialist surgical trainees in the North West London higher surgical training programme participated in laboratory-based skills sessions delivered by 19 consultants over a period of two years. The average attendance was 70.5% for trainees and 100% for trainers. All sessions were rated by trainees as well-organised and useful with an average score of more than 4 out of 5. Trainees felt that the Skills Programme can complement surgical training by allowing practice under expert supervision in a safe environment.Conclusions: Centralising laboratory-based skills training and integrating it into a clinical programme is feasible and acceptable and represents a paradigm shift in surgical training. Involvement of trainees in designing the content is valuable.