BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - Practice Does Make Perfect! These surgical education researchers have shown that 3, 30-minute training sessions per week were better than none at all, in acquiring the challenging skills of laparoscopic suturing and knot tying. They further showed that eight weeks of this training was significantly better than four weeks of this same training. The key component of their program was based on the ability to provide the trainees with a laparoscopic trainer system that could be used at home for these practice sessions. These researchers were able to reduce the expected time of this high- level skills training from 30 hours to 5 to 8 hours with their training program on the home-constructed system. The development of training curricula that incorporate simulation into the existing program will enhance the learning of most medical skills. Presently, residents receive a copy of Campbell's Urology as they enter the training program. Perhaps in the future they will also receive a laparoscopic training box for home study and practice.

Journal Endourology 20(2); 144-148, March 2006