Objectives: This study aimed to assess the subjective and objective cystoscopy skills of gynecology residents before and after implementation of a comprehensive simulation curriculum.
Methods: Residents in an obstetrics/gynecology program at a single academic institution participated in a 6-week cystoscopy simulation course. Residents attended an initial orientation and didactic presentation, and then weekly 20- to 30-minute training sessions using a water balloon model and a virtual reality simulator. Pretesting and posttesting were performed, including (1) subjective self-assessments, (2) a written quiz, and (3) objective structured assessment of technical skills. Paired t test was used to assess the differences in residents' objective assessment scores before and after simulation training.
Results: A total of 16 residents were recruited. Residents reported significant subjective improvements in comfort, confidence, and proficiency in performing cystoscopy after completing the curriculum. Their overall objective assessment improved, including written quiz scores (mean score, 49% vs 78%; P < 0.001), efficiency in cystoscope assembly (means score, 0 vs 4; P < 0.001), overall bladder survey score (56% vs 86%, P < 0.001), and global rating score (mean score, 15 vs 24; P < 0.001). Residents tended to prefer the water-balloon model compared with the virtual reality simulator (75% vs 25%).
Conclusions: Obstetrics/gynecology residents demonstrated significant improvements in subjective and objective measures of skill after completion of a 6-week cystoscopy simulation training course using a combination of low- and high-fidelity models. Although universal cystoscopy at the time of hysterectomy for benign indications remains controversial, cystoscopy simulation should remain an important part of resident training.
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