Laparoscopic psychomotor skill proficiency of Filipino medical doctors in-training in a tertiary hospital in the Philippines

INTRODUCTION: The conventional teaching of laparoscopic surgery in academic centers in the apprentice/mentor model is highly subjective. The Gynecological Endoscopic Surgical Education and Assessment is a well-structured education program proposed by the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESGE). This program uses the Laparoscopic Skills Training and Testing (LASTT) kit, an objective, validated, and measurable test to evaluate an individual’s competence level in basic laparoscopic psychomotor skills. The LASTT kit may be used to assess the basic laparoscopic psychomotor skills of Filipino doctors, guide surgical training recruitment, and improve the local minimally invasive surgery curriculum. GENERAL OBJECTIVE: The study will describe the implementation of the LASTT kit in evaluating the psychomotor skills of Filipino physicians in training and assess the feasibility and user acceptance of the kit. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used. A total of 34 trainees (19 medical interns and 15 surgical residents) were included. All trainees underwent the LASTT test to have the baseline data for comparison of each cohort. A posttest questionnaire for the feasibility and user acceptance of the kit was accomplished. RESULTS: A majority of participants were right-handed, and female, with 0–30 laparoscopic assists. The mean age of surgical residents was higher than medical interns. Surgical residents showed a significantly shorter time to accomplish the exercises than medical interns. Finally, it showed that the kit was clear and understandable, easy to use, and represented a realistic model of the actual laparoscopic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical residents were superior to medical interns in laparoscopic psychomotor skills, which supports that hands-on training and exposure to procedures improve skill proficiency. Furthermore, the LASTT kit was well accepted and would greatly aid in recruitment and skills training in the Philippines.