Development and evaluation of a low-cost part-task trainer for laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia in boys and the acquisition of basic laparoscopy skills.

Purpose: To examine the fidelity of our model of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) in boys and evaluate its value in resident training programs and the learning of basic laparoscopy skills.

Methods: We created a simulation model with inexpensive, easy-to-obtain equipment. Study participants from 34 university hospital departments received a user manual and an evaluation questionnaire (11 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale). We considered that the evaluation was positive when the median overall score was 4 or over. We compared the results for residents (n=26) vs. expert surgeons (n=29) (t tests).

Results: The duration of the procedure was significantly longer among the residents (30.0±16.8 min) than among the expert surgeons (20.5±11.7 min; p=0.01). In both groups, the participants rated the model favorably with regard to the overall impression (median score: 4.0±1.0), realism (4.0±0.9), ease of access to the required equipment (5.0±0.6), the quality of the user manual (5.0±0.6), ease of assembly (5.0±0.8), ease of the procedure (5.0±0.8), value in resident training programs (4.0±0.9), and value in learning basic laparoscopy skills (5.0±0.8)). The evaluation was positive (4.0±0.9).

Conclusion: Our low-cost model was an effective teaching and training tool for LIHR and basic laparoscopy skills.

Level Of Evidence: Level IV.