A tool for training and evaluation of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: the Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills-Groin Hernia (GOALS-GH)

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to develop an assessment tool specific to laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR), and to evaluate its reliability and validity in the operating room (OR) and skills laboratory.MethodsThe Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills–Groin Hernia (GOALS-GH) was developed by surgeon-educators. Participants were assessed in the OR and/or on a physical simulator using GOALS-GH. Interrater reliability, internal consistency, and construct and concurrent validity were evaluated for 23 participants.ResultsThe interrater reliability of GOALS-GH was >.70 for all raters in the OR and during simulated LIHR. The internal consistency of GOALS-GH items was .97. The mean total GOALS-GH score for experts was significantly higher than for novices in both environments. The correlation between GOALS-GH scores in the OR and simulator was .81 (P < .01; n = 12).ConclusionsGOALS-GH is an objective, reliable, and valid measure of the skills required to perform LIHR.