Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37067595›Full record

ArticleSurgical endoscopy2023

Virtual fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery (FLS) boot-camp using telesimulation: an educational solution during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Khaled Ramadan, Karen Chaiton, Jaime Burke, Dimitra Labrakos, Azusa Maeda, Allan Okrainec

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Surgical endoscopy, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Trial
  4. E-learning Challenges among Healthcare Students: A Scoping Review.Journal of advances in medical education & professionalism · 2026
    Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Khaled RamadanDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 149 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1P5, Canada.
Karen ChaitonTemerty Advanced Surgical Education and Simulation Centre, The Michener Institute of Education, University Health Network, 222 St., Patrick St., Toronto, ON, M5T 1V4, Canada.
Jaime BurkeDivision of General Surgery, University Health Network, 190 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
Dimitra LabrakosTemerty Advanced Surgical Education and Simulation Centre, The Michener Institute of Education, University Health Network, 222 St., Patrick St., Toronto, ON, M5T 1V4, Canada.
Azusa MaedaDivision of General Surgery, University Health Network, 190 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
Allan OkrainecDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 149 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1P5, Canada. allan.okrainec@uhn.ca.ORCID 0000-0003-1117-958X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) is an internationally recognized educational and certification program designed to teach the knowledge and skills required for basic laparoscopic surgery. Previously, our institution has organized an FLS boot-camp to teach PGY1 residents the FLS manual skills. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person sessions were not possible. The purpose of this study was to utilize telesimulation as an education solution for teaching FLS technical skills to PGY1 residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

methodsA virtual FLS program was established. A complete, easily portable FLS kit was distributed to participants and instructors to set up an FLS box and connect remotely using telesimulation. The program was delivered by three senior residents using the Zoom™ platform. Participants were split into groups of 3-4 individuals, each receiving three 1-h sessions. Sessions were structured with initial demonstration of tasks followed by individual coaching of participants in 'break-out' rooms. The official FLS exam was administered in-person on the 4th week. Pre- and post-course surveys were administered to participants gauging self-reported proficiency with FLS tasks and overall course feedback. Anonymized FLS exam results were collected.

resultsA total of 14 residents participated, and 11 responded to the survey. Participants reported that their overall FLS skills proficiency significantly improved on a 5-point likert scale from 1.5 ± 0.5 pre-course to 4.0 ± 0.5 post-course (mean ± SD). Participants unanimously stated that having the FLS box at home was valuable and enabled them to practice more. On the FLS exam, 13 of 14 participants passed the manual skills component.

conclusionsWe developed a telesimulation hands-on FLS course as an alternative to in-person training. The course was practical and effective and was preferred to traditional methods by participants. With ever-expanding technological solutions, virtual telesimulation education is an attractive and underutilized tool, not only in the setting of COVID-19, but also more broadly across current educational programs.

Indexed as

COVID-19Internship and ResidencyLaparoscopyClinical CompetenceHumansPandemicsCOVID-19Fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery (FLS)Surgical educationTelesimulation

Identifiers

PMID37067595
PMCPMC10108785

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.