Surgical Coaching for Enhancing Laparoscopic Skills in ObGyn Residents

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The Cleveland Clinic

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

28 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Surgical coaching involves the development of a partnership between two surgeons in which one surgeon (coach) guides the other (coachee) in identifying goals, providing feedback and facilitating action planning. Surgical coaching provides an effective means of acquiring new technical and non-technical skills. In this study, the investigators aim to perform a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of a video-based surgical coaching intervention on laparoscopic closure of the vaginal cuff among Obstetrics and Gynecology residents. Obstetrics and Gynecology resident participants will be randomly assigned to the control or intervention groups. Participants will have access to an instructional video related to laparoscopic vaginal cuff suturing and the validated laparoscopic vaginal cuff trainer to practice laparoscopic suturing as desired. The intervention group will receive the same resources as the control group and will also undergo three video-based coaching sessions focused on laparoscopic suturing on the validated laparoscopic vaginal cuff trainer. Our main outcome will consist of participants' change in technical skills of laparoscopic suturing the vaginal cuff, measured by the change in Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills Plus score (Vassiliou 2005) from baseline to study completion. Secondary outcomes will include participants' self-reported surgical confidence, operative enjoyment, and plans to incorporate surgery into their career.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Surgical Coaching for enhancing laparoscopic skills in ObGyn residents?

Research shows that surgical coaching, which involves a more experienced surgeon guiding another through feedback and goal-setting, is valuable for improving both technical and non-technical skills. Studies have found that coaching helps surgeons better assess their abilities and improve their surgical performance, making it a promising approach for enhancing skills in ObGyn residents. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is surgical coaching safe for humans?

Surgical coaching, which involves guidance and feedback from experienced surgeons, has been used in various medical fields and is generally considered safe. It focuses on improving skills and performance without direct physical intervention on patients, so there are no known safety concerns for participants. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

How is surgical coaching different from other treatments for improving laparoscopic skills in ObGyn residents?

Surgical coaching is unique because it involves a partnership between two surgeons, where one acts as a coach to guide the other in setting goals, providing feedback, and planning actions. This approach, which can include video-based coaching, offers personalized and continuous learning opportunities, unlike traditional training methods that may not provide individualized feedback or focus on lifelong learning. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

Research Team

Cara King, D.O.

Principal Investigator

The Cleveland Clinic

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Cleveland Clinic Obstetrics and Gynecology residents who are looking to improve their laparoscopic skills, specifically in suturing the vaginal cuff. There are no specific exclusion criteria mentioned, so it appears open to all residents within this department.

Inclusion Criteria

Cleveland Clinic Ob/Gyn Resident

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training and Practice

Participants have access to an instructional video and a laparoscopic vaginal cuff trainer to practice suturing as desired

12 months

Voluntary practice sessions

Coaching Sessions

Intervention group participants undergo three video-based coaching sessions focused on laparoscopic suturing

12 months

3 coaching sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in technical skills and self-reported outcomes

1 day

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Surgical Coaching

Trial Overview The study is testing whether surgical coaching can help ObGyn residents get better at laparoscopic suturing. Residents will be split into two groups: one that just practices with videos and a trainer, and another that gets extra video-based coaching sessions.

Participant Groups

Group I: Comparison group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Resident participants who do receive video-based surgical coaching

Group II: Control group Active Control 1 Intervention

Resident participants who do not receive video-based surgical coaching

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The Cleveland Clinic

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,072

Recruited

1,377,000+

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Surgical coaching in obstetrics and gynecology: an evidence-based strategy to elevate surgical education and promote lifelong learning. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Novel Expert Coaching Model in Urology, Aimed at Accelerating the Learning Curve in Robotic Prostatectomy. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Systematic review of randomized controlled trials on the role of coaching in surgery to improve learner outcomes. [2019]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Peer coaching to teach faculty surgeons an advanced laparoscopic skill: A randomized controlled trial. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of the Recorded Audio and Video Feedback on Simulated Surgical Performance: A Randomized Controlled Trial. [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Learning Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery Manual Skills: An Institutional Experience With Remote Coaching and Assessment. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of Video Coaching on Gynecologic Resident Laparoscopic Suturing: A Randomized Controlled Trial. [2018]

8. Brazil pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessment of laparoscopic skills of Gynecology and Obstetrics residents after a training program. [2022]