[15] A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TRAINING IN LAPAROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTATION SKILLS USING BOX TRAINER IN NOVICES

ARTICLE INFO: Date of Submission: Mar 07, 2025, Revised: Mar 18, 2025, Accepted: March 25, 2025, https://doi.org/10.56815/ijmrr.v4i1.2025.117-138

Abstract

Background: Laparoscopic surgery demands advanced hand-eye coordination and psychomotor skills, which are challenging for novices to acquire. Simulation-based training, such as the use of box trainers, has been proposed as an effective method for skill development. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of structured training using a boxing trainer in improving laparoscopic instrumentation skills among novices. Methods: A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted at KPC Medical College and Hospital from April 2021 to April 2024. Hundred participants, comprising first-year surgical residents and residents from non-surgical departments with no prior laparoscopic experience, were enrolled. Participants were randomized into two groups: an intervention group that underwent structured training using a boxing trainer and a control group that received no formal training. Pre- and post-training assessments were conducted using standardized suturing tasks performed on the box trainer and evaluated based on time to completion, accuracy, and error rate. Results: The intervention group demonstrated statistically significant improvement in all performance metrics following training (p < 0.05), whereas the control group showed minimal or no improvement. The intergroup comparison revealed a significant difference favouring the trained group, confirming the efficacy of simulation-based skill acquisition. Conclusion: Laparoscopic box trainer-based training significantly enhances key laparoscopic skills in surgical novices and facilitates the effective transfer of these skills to the clinical environment. Given its low cost, accessibility, and use of equipment identical to actual laparoscopic surgery, we recommend the incorporation of box trainers into early surgical training curricula.