Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41723423›Full record

Trial reportBMC medical education2026

Near-peer teaching of laparoscopic skills among medical students: a randomised feasibility study.

Martin Patrick Ho, Leonie Heskin, Lena Dablouk, Yasmina Richa, Joshua Nolan, Andrew O' Brien, Samin Abrar, Derek Hennessey

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC medical education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

8 authors.

Martin Patrick HoDepartment of Surgery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. drmartinho1@gmail.com.
Leonie HeskinDepartment of Surgery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Lena DabloukDepartment of Surgery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Yasmina RichaDepartment of Surgery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Joshua NolanDepartment of Surgery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Andrew O' BrienDepartment of Surgery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Samin AbrarDepartment of Surgery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Derek HennesseyDepartment of Surgery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLaparoscopic surgery is integral to modern surgical practice. However, many medical students graduate with limited exposure to essential skills. Near-peer teaching is a promising, student-led approach to address this gap, though its objective impact remains under-evaluated. The aims of this study were to develop a novel objective assessment tool, assess changes in students’ confidence and objective performance in laparoscopic tasks following near-peer versus self-directed training, and explore factors associated with performance.

methodsThis single-blinded, randomised feasibility study enrolled 42 medical students without prior laparoscopic experience. Participants were randomly assigned to near-peer (Group 1) or self-taught group (Group 2) and completed six weekly sessions across four laparoscopic stations: Ball Transfer, Circle Cutting, Peg Transfer, and String. Performance was scored using a novel objective assessment tool developed through a Modified Delphi Method. Two blinded surgical trainees assessed all performances.

resultsNo significant differences were observed in pre-intervention objective performance between groups, except for the “Peg Transfer” station. Post-intervention, both groups improved significantly across all tasks (p < 0.001). Their confidence also improved (p < 0.001). The peer-taught group outperformed the self-directed group in “Circle Cutting” (p = 0.02), “String” (p = 0.01), and “Peg Transfer” station (p = 0.04). There was no relationship between age, gender, or video game experience and performance.

conclusionsThis is the first study to demonstrate that near-peer teaching of laparoscopic skills improved laparoscopic performance among medical students compared with a control group. These findings support the integration of near-peer laparoscopic teaching into undergraduate surgical education. The novel assessment tool demonstrated sensitivity to change in performance pre- and post-intervention.

Indexed as

Clinical CompetenceEducation, Medical, UndergraduateLaparoscopyPeer GroupStudents, MedicalAdultFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleSingle-Blind MethodTeachingYoung AdultLaparoscopicLaparoscopyMedical educationMedical studentsNear-peer teachingSimulationSurgical skillsSurgical training

Identifiers

PMID41723423
PMCPMC13032402

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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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.