Efficacy of laparoscopic simulator training in standardized obstetrics and gynecology residents: a prospective study demonstrating skill convergence

Since its nationwide implementation in 2014, China’s standardized residency training system has aimed for homogeneous clinical competency outcomes. In obstetrics and gynecology, where minimally invasive techniques now dominate, this goal faces significant challenges. The high volume of laparoscopic procedures necessitates efficient training, yet traditional apprenticeship models within real-world clinical settings are often inconsistent, time-intensive, and carry inherent patient safety concerns. These factors can hinder the systematic and equitable skill acquisition required for reliable, standardized proficiency across all trainees. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a structured laparoscopic simulator curriculum in improving basic surgical skills and promoting skill-level convergence among obstetrics and gynecology residents at different training stages. A prospective educational intervention was conducted at a national residency training base. Thirty residents (PGY-1, n = 10; PGY-2, n = 10; PGY-3, n = 10) undertook a standardized four-week curriculum on a box-trainer, covering four core skill modules. Performance was assessed weekly by task completion time and analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Significant improvements in task efficiency were observed among PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents over the training period (p < 0.05), whereas PGY-3 residents maintained stable, proficient performance. By the end of the curriculum, no statistically significant differences in performance were observed among the three groups at Week 4. A structured simulator-based curriculum can effectively enhance basic laparoscopic skills among residents and may help achieve comparable skill outcomes across different training levels, indicating its potential as a useful adjunct to traditional clinical training.