Surgical skills assessment tools in gynecology.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to outline surgical skills assessment tools for the purpose of training and competency evaluation, with a focus on recent literature in gynecology.

RECENT FINDINGS: Objective standardized surgical skills assessment tools are increasingly being explored in multiple surgical disciplines including gynecology. Several small studies in gynecology have validated procedure-specific checklists, global rating scales, and other surgical proficiency examinations in their ability to differentiate trainee skill level or correlate with other standardized tests. Few studies have included gynecologic surgeons in practice, and no studies have investigated their use in credentialing and maintenance of certification.

SUMMARY: Surgical skills assessment tools may be a useful adjunct to gynecology training programs, with promising applications for practicing gynecologists.