WCE 2017: Assimilation of Skills: A Survey Among Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Course Participants

Vancouver, Canada (UroToday.com) Dr. Roshan Patel, clinical urology fellow from the University of California, Irvine, presented data on the effect of training received during an American Urology Association (AUA) percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) course on clinical practice. In 2015, three AUA sponsored PCNL courses were offered at the University of California Irvine, University of Minnesota, and the Smith Institute of Urology. There is increased utilization of PCNL among urologists, however many do not receive adequate training during residency to perform percutaneous access themselves as well as to perform the PCNL procedure comfortably. The AUA PCNL course addressed this issue and taught urologists the ability to obtain percutaneous access and helped to gain them familiarity with other parts of the PCNL procedure over a two day course.

Participants in these 3 courses were invited to participate in a post-course questionnaire from November 2016 to January 2017. All surveys were sent out and filled out online using SurveyMonkey. 44 of a total of 89 total AUA PCNL course participants (49.4%) completed the questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed the demographics of the respondents, type of clinical practice, fellowship training status, familiarity with gaining percutaneous access before and after the course, number of PCNL procedure performed following the course, method of access, comfort level performing steps of a PCNL, and lasting impression of the course. Data analysis of the responses showed that there was a 25% increase in the number of course participants who obtained their own percutaneous access after participating in the course. The preferred method of access for these participants was fluoroscopy-guided. Attendees were asked to rate their skills in the various steps of PCNL. The majority of participants rated themselves to be expert or moderate level for prone positioning, performing renal ultrasound, fluoroscopy guided percutaneous access, dilation of nephrostomy tract, and flexible nephroscopy. 90% of respondents stating they either “agree” or “strongly agree” to recommend an AUA PCNL course to a colleague.

Dr. Patel concluded that following completion of an AUA sponsored PCNL course, 25% of participants reported a successful assimilation of skills. Additionally he stated that long-term follow-up is necessary to evaluate for lasting effects of the training received.

Presented by: Roshan Patel at the 35^th World Congress of Endourology– September 12-16, 2017, Vancouver, Canada. 

Authors: Roshan Patel, Arman Walia, Kamaljot Kaler, Zhamshid Okhunov, Jaime Landman, Ralph Clayman
Affiliation: Department of Urology, University of California, Irvine

Written by: Renai Yoon, Department of Urology, University of California-Irvine

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