The data on FLS skill retention in this study is extended to an actual "production" training curriculum. This FLS training provided effective R01 learning. Despite the fact that average performance levels fell across these tasks and for the majority of individual R01s, significant skill retention remained at 7-8 months. R01s will be able to maintain or improve their skill levels with additional training sessions if they receive early training.
POST TCTs were lower than PRE TCTs in all R01s for all FLS tasks (P 0.05). There was no difference between the DELAY TCT and the POST TCT for peg transfer (P = 0.726) or pattern cut (P = 0.114). For extra- and intracorporeal knot-tying, DELAY TCTs were longer than POST TCTs (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.029, respectively). Relative retention was 103% for peg transfer and 85% for ring transfer.
