Facts, Views & Vision
in ObGyn

Journal of the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy

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Are you good enough for your patients? The European certification model in laparoscopic surgery

R. Campo1,2, C.R. Molinas1,3, R.L. De Wilde4, H. Brolmann5, S. Brucker6, L. Mencaglia7, P. Odonovan1,8, D. Wallwiener1,6, A. Wattiez1,9

1 European Academy of Gynaecological Surgery, Leuven, Belgium.

2 Leuven Institute for Fertility and Embryology (LIFE), Leuven, Belgium.

3 Neolife – Medicina y Cirugía Reproductiva, Asunción, Paraguay.

4 Pius-Hospital, Klinik für Frauenheilkunde, Geburtshilfe und Gynäkologische Onkologie, Oldenburg, Germany.

5 Department of Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.

7 Centro Oncologico Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.

8 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, UK.

9 Département de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Hopitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.

Keywords:

Laparoscopy, training, certification, psychomotor skills, education.


Published online: Jun 29 2012

Abstract

Quality control, training and education in gynaecological surgery are challenged and urgent measures are emerging. The implementation of a structured and validated program for training and quality control seems the most urgent measurement to be taken. The European Academy of Gynaecological Surgery has made a first attempt to do so. Through a practical and theoretical tests system, the skills of an individual surgeon is measured and the conditions to enter the different level of expertise are clearly defined. This certification system based on the best possible level of scientific evidence provides a first practical tool, universally implementable for a decent quality control and structured training program in Gynaecological laparoscopic surgery.