P4089 - Utilization of Scheduled Simulator Based Endoscopy Training Enables Sustained Improvement of Key Endoscopic Skills

Michael J. Antony, MD¹, Shantanu Solanki, MD, MPH², Abdullah S. Shaikh, MD¹, Cyril B. Mazhuvanchery, DO¹, Ingrid B. Schwartz, MD¹, Hao Chi Zhang, MD², Gottumukkala S. Raju, MD¹, Mehnaz A. Shafi, MD¹, Selvi Thirumurthi, MD, MS, FACG², Emmanuel Coronel, MD², Phillip Ge, MD^2
1University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; ²MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Introduction: Endoscopic simulators provide a safe training environment for gastroenterology trainees to improve their technical endoscopic skills. The precise improvement in learning curves while incorporating a scheduled simulator endoscopy curriculum has not been previously validated. We had previously reported on the learning curve of two first year adult gastroenterology fellows (Cohort 1) utilizing the Thompson Endoscopic Skills Trainer (TEST) as part of their first-year training. We now present the data of a new cohort of first year fellows (Cohort 2) who have similarly undergone routine simulator training sessions.

Methods: Building on the previous longitudinal quality improvement project conducted at the ACGME-accredited University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center adult gastroenterology fellowship program, the new cohort of first year fellows participated in scheduled TEST endoscopic simulation sessions spaced throughout their first year of training. Each fellow completed 20 sessions spaced over 11 months, with an average of 1-2 sessions per day. The last 10 sessions were presided over by a faculty member who would provide post session feedback.

Each session involved 4 exercises focused on polypectomy, retroflexion, torque control, and tip deflection. Each exercise had 10 objectives scored at 10 points each, with 5 minutes to complete each exercise and 1 point awarded for each extra second remaining at the end.

Results: After 20 sessions the average improvement of scores between Cohort 2 fellows was 632%, as compared to 250% from Cohort 1 Fellows (Figure 1). Overall objectives completed and residual time at completion also both improved as more sessions were completed (Table 1).

Discussion: Utilization of scheduled endoscopic simulator training has shown sustained improvement of key endoscopic skills over a year of gastroenterology fellowship. A greater percentage improvement in score from the first year of data to the second could be attributed to spacing out sessions throughout the year of training, as well as incorporating a faculty member to provide post session feedback. These findings encourage the use of simulator-based training in conjunction with traditional patient-based endoscopy as a means for trainees to develop their skills in a safe and regimented way. Further studies will seek to continue to validate these findings and investigate how these scores translate to endoscopic outcomes.



Disclosures:


Michael J. Antony, MD¹, Shantanu Solanki, MD, MPH², Abdullah S. Shaikh, MD¹, Cyril B. Mazhuvanchery, DO¹, Ingrid B. Schwartz, MD¹, Hao Chi Zhang, MD², Gottumukkala S. Raju, MD¹, Mehnaz A. Shafi, MD¹, Selvi Thirumurthi, MD, MS, FACG², Emmanuel Coronel, MD², Phillip Ge, MD². P4089 - Utilization of Scheduled Simulator Based Endoscopy Training Enables Sustained Improvement of Key Endoscopic Skills, ACG 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Philadelphia, PA: American College of Gastroenterology.