Evaluation of colonoscopy skills - how well are we doing?

Colonoscopy is a complex task that requires the interplay of motor and cognitive skill sets. Traditional teaching of colonoscopy involves observation in an apprenticeship model. Individual trainees vary in their rate of their skill acquisition, and this trial-and-error method often results in frustration and anxiety for both the educator and the learner. Currently, there are no guidelines to determine the competence or proficiency of an individual for colonoscopy. Furthermore, there is a paucity of information regarding formal training curricula for colonoscopy skills acquisition. The present study investigated a formal and validated educational framework for colonoscopy teaching and compared it with the traditional apprenticeship model in first-year trainees.