Correlation of Fine Motor Skills Testing with Laparoscopic Surgical Skills in Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents

Study Objective: To assess whether faster dexterity in fine motor skills grooved pegboard testing predicts improved didactic examination, laparoscopic skills simulator tasks and operating room performance in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) residents.Design: We selected OB/GYN residents enrolled in a multicenter, randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the impact of laparoscopic skills simulator training on operating room performance. We compared fine-motor skills as demonstrated by initial peg board testing with task performance on laparoscopic skills simulator and operating room performance. Fine motor skills grooved pegboard testing has been previously validated with mean standardized scores assigned by age group for the non-dominant hand. Baseline assessment, also, included a 20 question didactic examination, laparoscopic skills evaluation of five validated tasks (peg transfer, pattern cutting, endoloop placement, extracorporeal knot tying and intra-corporeal knot tying), as well as, qualitative and quantitative assessment by faculty members of actual resident operating room performance. Residents were further categorized as lower level (LL) PGY 1-2 and upper level (UL) PGY 3-4 to assess impact training experience.Measurements and Main Results: The study was designed to recruit 123 residents including 66 UL and 57 LL residents. At Baseline, there was no difference in age, exposure to laparoscopy or experience with simulators. Residents were identified who performed below the mean on fine motor skills grooved pegboard testing and compared with the remaining residents who demonstrated faster dexterity at the task. In each of the components evaluated, our analysis failed to demonstrate a difference in the mean scores between below the mean and faser dexterity groups. Additionally, comparison of LL and UL residents demonstrated no difference.Conclusion: Our study suggests that there is no correlation between faster dexterity in fine motor skills grooved pegboard testing and proficiency in didactic examination, laparoscopic skills simulator tasks or operating room performance in Obstetrics and Gynecology residents. Study Objective: To assess whether faster dexterity in fine motor skills grooved pegboard testing predicts improved didactic examination, laparoscopic skills simulator tasks and operating room performance in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) residents. Design: We selected OB/GYN residents enrolled in a multicenter, randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the impact of laparoscopic skills simulator training on operating room performance. We compared fine-motor skills as demonstrated by initial peg board testing with task performance on laparoscopic skills simulator and operating room performance. Fine motor skills grooved pegboard testing has been previously validated with mean standardized scores assigned by age group for the non-dominant hand. Baseline assessment, also, included a 20 question didactic examination, laparoscopic skills evaluation of five validated tasks (peg transfer, pattern cutting, endoloop placement, extracorporeal knot tying and intra-corporeal knot tying), as well as, qualitative and quantitative assessment by faculty members of actual resident operating room performance. Residents were further categorized as lower level (LL) PGY 1-2 and upper level (UL) PGY 3-4 to assess impact training experience. Measurements and Main Results: The study was designed to recruit 123 residents including 66 UL and 57 LL residents. At Baseline, there was no difference in age, exposure to laparoscopy or experience with simulators. Residents were identified who performed below the mean on fine motor skills grooved pegboard testing and compared with the remaining residents who demonstrated faster dexterity at the task. In each of the components evaluated, our analysis failed to demonstrate a difference in the mean scores between below the mean and faser dexterity groups. Additionally, comparison of LL and UL residents demonstrated no difference. Conclusion: Our study suggests that there is no correlation between faster dexterity in fine motor skills grooved pegboard testing and proficiency in didactic examination, laparoscopic skills simulator tasks or operating room performance in Obstetrics and Gynecology residents.