Simulation in African Surgical Education: A Critical Need for Training in Low-Middle-Income Countries

Researchers conducted a needs assessment in African surgical education, revealing a critical need for comprehensive surgical training in low-middle-income countries (LMICs). The survey of program directors identified high priority skills such as intracorporeal suturing, laparoscopic camera driving, and medial visceral rotation. Interviews highlighted a desire for laparoscopic surgery and a need for a simulation curriculum to familiarize staff and trainees with laparoscopic techniques. Faculty and surgical trainees in LMICs expressed interest in learning advanced surgical techniques, particularly laparoscopy, indicating the potential for a tailored simulation curriculum to bridge this educational gap.