Efficacy of a novel educational curriculum using a simulation laboratory on resident performance of hysteroscopic sterilization

Objective: To assess whether a novel educational curriculum using a simulation teaching laboratory improves resident knowledge, comfort with, and surgical performance of hysteroscopic sterilization. Design: An educational prospective, pretest/posttest study. Setting: The Montefiore Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery Laboratory. Patient(s)/Subject(s): Thirty-four OB/GYN residents in an academic medical center. Intervention(s): Hysteroscopic sterilization simulation laboratory and a brief didactic lecture. Main Outcome Measure(s): Differences in scores on validated skill assessment tools: Task specific checklist, Global Rating Scale (GRS), pass fail assessment, and a multiple-choice examination to evaluate knowledge and attitude. Result(s): In the entire cohort improvements were observed on all evaluation tools after the simulation laboratory, with 31% points (SD ± 11.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 27.3-35.3) higher score on the written evaluation; 63% points (SD ± 15.7, 95% CI 57.8-68.8) higher score on the task specific checklist; and 54% points (SD ± 13.6, 95% CI 48.8-58.3) higher score on the GRS. Higher PGY status was correlated with better pretest performance, but was not statistically significant in posttest scores. Residents reported an improvement in comfort performing the procedure after the laboratory. Conclusion(s): Simulation laboratory teaching significantly improved resident knowledge, comfort level, and technical skill performance of hysteroscopic sterilization.