Laparoscopic skills simulator: construct validity and establishment of performance standards for residency training

Our aim was to test our laparoscopic simulator for construct validity and for establishing performance standards. The skills of laparoscopic novices (n = 18) and advanced gynaecologists (experts, n = 5) were tested on our inanimate simulator by their performance of five tasks. The sum score was the sum of scores of all five tasks. We calculated the scores by adding completion time and penalty points. After baseline evaluation, the novices were assigned to five weekly training sessions (n = 8, training group) or no training (n = 10, control group). Both groups were retested. The experts were tested once, and their performance was compared with the baseline scores of all novices to establish construct validity. The training group improved significantly in all tasks. The final scores of the trained group were significantly better than those of the control group. The training group reached a plateau within seven trials, except for intra-corporeal knot tying. During final testing, the trained group reached the experts' level of skills on the simulator. We concluded that our simulation model has construct validity. Novices can reach the experts' basic laparoscopic skills level on the simulator after a short and intense simulator training course. Experts' basic skills level on the simulator is an achievable performance standard during residency training.