FLS assessment of competency using simulated laparoscopic tasks.

Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) is a program of SAGES and the American College of Surgeons designed to teach and evaluate the knowledge, judgment, and skills fundamental to laparoscopic surgery, independent of the surgical specialty. It has undergone rigorous evaluation to ensure that the evaluation component meets appropriate standards to ensure the reliability and validity of the test. The manual skills component is based on the McGill Inanimate System for Training and Evaluation of Laparoscopic Skills (MISTELS) program. This component has been shown to meet standards for reliability (interrater, test-retest, and internal consistency) required for a high-stakes examination. Content, face, construct, and criterion validity have also been established through a series of experimental studies. FLS presents a comprehensive learning package that is inexpensive and of proven value for teaching minimally invasive surgery. Its unique contribution is the included validated assessment to ensure that those taking the program have demonstrated the requisite knowledge and skills fundamental to performing laparoscopic surgery.