Experience with the introduction of a laparoscope training box in obstetrics and gynecology medical education

Abstract

The shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists is becoming serious in the Tohoku region. An important task as a local organizer of medical practitioners is for each medical school to make an effort to help the students with an interest in obstetrics and gynecology. Gynecologic endoscopic procedures have advanced and spread rapidly in recent years. The introduction of the endoscope makes the field of obstetrics and gynecology more attractive. We introduced a program of endoscopic surgery using a training box to medical education. The training box was set up in the Department of Medicine Skills lab of Tohoku University Hospital for use by 5th year medical students. After an introductory video display, the students attempted to operate with devices in the training box. Practice was done based on the syllabus in four stages, culminating in suturing in the box. After practicing for 1 hour, the practice symposium was limited limit to 5 minutes. Every student worked with seriousness which had not been previously demonstrated. Further, practice guidance by the tutor, who was certified as a recognition medicine by this society, was extremely popular with the student. We conclude that introduction of practicing endoscopic surgery using a training box to the medical education deepens the students' interest in obstetrics and gynecology.Such a training device might be useful also for student recruitment to obstetrics and gynecology in the future.