In recen
t years,
training and educa
tion in endoscopic surgery has been cri
tically reviewed. Clinicians, bo
th surgeons as gynaecologis
t who perform endoscopic surgery wi
thou
t proper
training of
the specific psychomo
tor skills are a
t higher risk
to increased pa
tien
t morbidi
ty and mor
tali
ty. Al
though
the appren
tice-
tu
tor model has long been a successful approach for
training of surgeons, recen
tly, clinicians have recognised
tha
t endoscopic surgery requires an impor
tan
t training phase ou
tside
the opera
ting
thea
tre.
The Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgical Education and Assessment programme (GESEA), recognises the necessity of this structured approach and implements two separated stages in its learning strategy. In the first stage, a skill certificate on theoretical knowledge and specific practical psychomotor skills is acquired through a high stake exam; in the second stage, a clinical programme is completed to achieve surgical competence and receive the corresponding diploma.
Three diplomas can be awarded: (a) the Bachelor in Endoscopy; (b) the Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgeon (MIGS); and (c) the Master level. The Master level is sub-divided into two separate diplomas: the Master in Laparoscopic Pelvic Surgery and the Master in Hysteroscopy.
The complexity of modern surgery has increased the demands and challenges to surgical education and the quality control. This programme is based on the best available scientific evidence and it counteracts the problem of the traditional surgical apprentice tutor model. It is seen as a major step toward standardization of endoscopic surgical training in general.