Urological Laparoscopic Practice Patterns 1 Year After Formal Training

The long-term impact of laparoscopic training on urological surgical practice patterns is unclear. We assessed urologist practice patterns 1 year subsequent to a formal training course in urological laparoscopic surgery. Results were compared to findings from an identical study performed 3 months following training. On 5 dates between January and October 1991, a total of 163 urologists participated in a 2-day, university sponsored, laparoscopic surgery training seminar. At 3 months and 1 year following the course, participants were mailed a 20-question survey inquiring as to the interval laparoscopic experience. Multiple questions were designed for later correlation with participant use of laparoscopic surgery. Totals of 105 and 128 course participants (64% and 78.5%) responded to the questionnaire at 3 and 12 months, respectively. No significant differences in 3-month and 12-month demographics were demonstrated with respect to practice setting, practice focus or percentage undergoing additional training. Significant increases were noted between 3 and 12 months in the number of candidates identified per month (1.5 versus 2.4), proportion of surgical case load taken by laparoscopy (2.6% versus 4.1%), number of laparoscopic patient inquiries per month (0.25 versus 1.0) and number of laparoscopies performed per month (0.55 versus 0.78). Additional post-course training was significantly correlated with clinical use at 3 and 12 months. Of the 105 and 108 respondents 64 (61%) and 83 (65%) had engaged in some form of additional training by 3 months and 1 year after the course, respectively. Additional training as well as performance of laparoscopy proved to be independent of practice setting or practice focus at 3 and 12 months. Those who attended the course with a partner were significantly more likely to have performed laparoscopy at 1 year than those who attended alone. At 12 months following course completion 66% of the respondents believed that the year of laparoscopic experience was sufficient to maintain skills. This survey suggests that laparoscopic techniques are being used consistently by urologists subsequent to formal laparoscopic training courses.