Role of active mentoring during flexible ureteroscopy training

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of flexible ureteroscopy training with or without an active mentor.

Materials and methods: Thirty-six flexible ureteroscopy naive practicing urologists and urology residents, after an initial introductory refreshment course, underwent training under a mentor for 15 minutes each in a high-fidelity nonvirtual reality Endo-Urologie-Modell (Karl Storz). The trainees were then randomized into two equal groups for training: One under a mentor and the other without. These two groups completed the training for 2 hours. Global rating scale (GRS) for the performance of flexible ureteroscopy was measured by a blinded expert at the beginning and end of the training. A specific task completion time (TCT) was noted at the end of the training. The trainees noted their own global rating scale at the end of the training.

Results: The GRS by the expert at the end of the training was significantly higher in the mentor group. TCT was significantly lower in the mentor group. TCT correlated well with the GRS as measured by the expert rather than the trainee.

Conclusion: Mentorship during flexible ureteroscopy training results in higher GRS and lower TCT at the end of the training. Self-assessment GRS by trainee does not correlate well with the skills acquired.