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Trends and results of the first 5 years of Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) certification testing

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Abstract

Introduction

FLS is an educational program developed by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons and endorsed by the American College of Surgeons. The goal of the FLS program is to teach and assess the basic cognitive and psychomotor skills required to perform laparoscopic surgery. The purpose of this study is to review the results from the first 5 years of FLS certification testing.

Methods

FLS test data were prospectively collected for all participants taking the FLS certification examination since its inception. Deidentified data were reviewed and analyzed using standard descriptive statistics.

Results

The FLS examination was taken by 2,689 participants between October 2004 and December 2009. There was a yearly increase in the number of individuals seeking FLS certification. Complete demographic information was available for 1,882 participants: 12% were junior residents (PGY 1–3), 69% were senior residents (PGY 4–5) or fellows, and 19% were attending surgeons. A breakdown of participants by specialty revealed that 88% were general surgeons, 4% were gynecologists, 2% were urologists, and 6% were labeled as “other.” The mean (standard deviation, SD) score on the cognitive examination was 519 (157), with a 93% pass rate. The mean score on the technical skills examination was 525 (117), with a 92% pass rate. After combining both scores, the overall FLS certification pass rate was 88%.

Conclusions

The FLS certification examination has gained widespread acceptance among laparoscopic surgeons in training and practice, with a marked increase in testing since the American Board of Surgery mandate for certification was announced. The overall pass rate of 88% on the examination approaches the target pass rate of 90% established during the test-setting process.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Carla Bryant and Sarah Colon from SAGES for their help in preparing the data for this study. We would also like to thank Kristen Pitzul for assistance with statistical analysis.

Disclosures

Author Allan Okrainec receives honoraria for speaking and teaching from Covidien and Ethicon Endosurgery. Author Nathaniel Soper is on the speakers bureau of Covidien, and also receives instruments and funds from Covidien for resident education, is on the speakers bureau of Ethicon Endosurgery and receives research funding for laboratory by Ethicon Endosurgery, receives research equipment by Karl Storz, has stock options in TransEnterix, and receives honoraria for being on scientific advisory board, use of instruments by Boston Scientific for being on scientific advisory board, use of instruments by USGI Medical for being on scientific advisory board, and receives honoraria by Terumo for being on scientific advisory board. Author Lee Swanstrom has no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose. Author Gerald Fried received an unrestricted educational grant from Covidien.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of General Surgery, Toronto Western Hospital—University Health Network, 399 Bathurst Street, 8MP-325, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S5, Canada

    Allan Okrainec

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Allan Okrainec

  3. Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Nathaniel J. Soper

  4. Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Legacy Health System, Portland, OR, USA

    Lee L. Swanstrom

  5. Steinberg-Bernstein Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Gerald M. Fried

  6. Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Gerald M. Fried

Authors
  1. Allan Okrainec
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  2. Nathaniel J. Soper
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  3. Lee L. Swanstrom
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  4. Gerald M. Fried
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Allan Okrainec.

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Okrainec, A., Soper, N.J., Swanstrom, L.L. et al. Trends and results of the first 5 years of Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) certification testing. Surg Endosc 25, 1192–1198 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-010-1343-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-010-1343-0

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