Validation of a cost-effective appendicectomy model for surgical training.

Background: Appendicitis is a commonly occurring condition worldwide. The gold standard treatment is appendicectomy. Although training models are commercially available for this procedure, they are often associated with high cost. Here we present a cost-effective model.

Aim: To establish construct validity of a cost-effective laparoscopic appendicectomy simulation model.

Methods: Three groups of surgeons were recruited; novices ( = 31), of intermediate expertise ( = 13) and experts ( = 5) and asked to perform a simulated laparoscopic appendicectomy using the new model. Their performance was assessed by a faculty member and compared between the three groups using a validated scoring system (Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills [GOALS] score).

Results: One-way ANOVA test showed a significant difference in task performance between groups ( < 0.0001). Post-hoc comparisons after the application of Bonferroni correction (statistically significant value <0.017) demonstrate a significant difference in performance between all groups for all GOALS categories as well as the total score. Effect size calculations showed that experience level had moderate (Eta-squared >0.5 and <0.8) and significant (>0.8) impact on the performance of the simulated procedure.

Conclusion: The model described in this study is cost-effective, valid and can adequately simulate appendicectomy. The authors recommend inclusion of this model to postgraduate surgical training.