Bimodal assessment of laparoscopic suturing skills: construct and concurrent validity.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of technical skills should provide objective feedback and judge suitability of progress during training. The aim of this study was to validate two objective assessment techniques for laparoscopic suturing and demonstrate a correlation between them.

METHODS: Six experts, seven surgeons skilled in laparoscopic suturing, and 13 with no laparoscopic suturing skills were asked to place two or three intracorporeal sutures on a synthetic suture pad. The latter group was given video-based instructions prior to the execution of the sutures. Ergonomic conditions were standardized for all subjects. The procedures were recorded on videotape and two blinded observers rated the first suture of each subject on a 29-point checklist. A motion analysis system, Imperial College Surgical Assessment Device, was used to assess psychomotor skills.

RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the time taken (p = 0.000) and total path length (p = 0.000) per suture across the groups. There were also a significant difference in the total checklist score (p = 0.000) and its individual categories. The was a strong correlation between the total path length and the total checklist score (coefficient, 0.78; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: A combination of the motion analysis system and the checklist would make the process of formative feedback during the learning of intracorporeal suturing objective and comprehensive.