Structured Simulation Training for Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic Skills in Thoracic Surgery Residents

Structured Simulation-Based Training to Develop Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic Skills in Thoracic Surgery and Rotating Surgical Residents: A Component-Based Educational Model

This study aims to improve basic laparoscopic and thoracoscopic skills in thoracic surgery residents and rotating surgical residents through a structured simulation-based training program. Participants will complete hands-on practice sessions using box trainers, artificial models, and bovine tissues in a controlled, non-patient setting.

Before and after the training, participants will complete self-assessment surveys and a standardized technical skills evaluation (OSATS). The study will compare these results to measure changes in technical performance, confidence, and learning needs. No real patients, live animals, or clinical procedures are involved, and there are no expected medical risks.

The goal of this study is to determine whether structured simulation training is effective, practical, and acceptable for surgical education, and whether it can support safer transition to real operating room experience in the future.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Surgical Education; Simulation-based Training; Resident Training
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Structured Simulation-Based Surgical Training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 19
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Samsun
    • Samsun, Samsun, Turkey (Türkiye), 55139
      • Ondokuz Mayis University Medical Faculty, Department of Thoracic Surgery

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Thoracic surgery residents OR rotating general surgery/cardiovascular surgery residents
• Age ≥18 years
• Actively enrolled in an accredited residency training program
• Willingness to participate in hands-on simulation training
• Ability to provide informed consent
• Able to complete video-recorded performance assessments

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior advanced laparoscopic or thoracoscopic fellowship training
• Inability to safely handle surgical instruments (e.g., significant musculoskeletal limitation)
• Previous participation in a similar structured simulation program within the past 12 months
• Declines consent or withdraws participation
• Unable to attend required training and assessment sessions

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Structured Simulation Training; Participants will undergo a standardized simulation-based training program designed to develop laparoscopic and thoracoscopic technical skills. Training includes camera navigation, tissue dissection, stapling, and suturing tasks performed on box trainers, artificial models, and bovine tissues in a controlled laboratory setting. All participants complete baseline (pre-training) and post-training evaluations using OSATS scoring, self-assessment surveys, and performance timing. No clinical procedures, live animals, or patient interactions occur during the study.

Behavioral: Structured Simulation-Based Surgical Training; Participants will complete a structured simulation-based training curriculum designed to improve fundamental laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgical skills. The program includes standardized modules on camera navigation, tissue handling, dissection, stapling, and suturing, performed on box trainers, artificial models, and bovine tissues. Training occurs in a controlled laboratory environment with faculty supervision and predefined performance goals. No real patients, clinical procedures, or live animals are involved. All participants undergo pre- and post-training performance assessment using OSATS scoring, task completion time, and self-evaluation surveys.; Other Names: Component-Based Laparoscopic-Thoracoscopic Training; Simulation Skills Curriculum

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Total OSATS Score	Technical skill performance will be assessed using the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS), consisting of a global rating scale and task-specific checklist (total score range 0-35). Each participant will complete the same standardized tasks before and after the simulation training. The primary outcome is the within-subject change (post-training minus pre-training) in total OSATS score.	Baseline (pre-training) and immediately after completion of the training program (within 1 week)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ondokuz Mayıs University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 25, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 25, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): December 8, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 8, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 25, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: B.30.2.ODM.0.20.08/498

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared because the sample size is small and performance videos, OSATS scores, and survey results may allow indirect identification of surgical trainees. Data are collected solely for educational and research purposes within a single institution and will be stored securely according to ethics committee requirements. Only aggregated and de-identified results will be reported in publications and presentations.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No